Tanzania Bans Alcohol In Sachets

Like some other African countries, Tanzania has banned the import, manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol contained in plastic bags.

Today, the government announced the ban with the dual objective of protecting youth and the environment.

According to Environment Minister January  Makamba, the decision, which has been announced for several months, comes into force on today in all provinces.

These small sachets containing all kinds of alcoholic drinks pollute the environment because they are thrown away after consumption. They are also a public health problem, as they are very consumed by young people.

Easily hidden in pockets of trousers or school bags, they easily enter classrooms. In some schools, one can see young students “suck”, between two courses, bags of 50 milliliters.

The drinks are largely cheap – some brands going for a quarter dollar. Reports indicate that some are selling in some places better than sodas. After drinking them, patrons often throw the empty sachets on the roads and into the sewers or vacant lots.

The most recent African country to have ban it was Ivory Coast. Senegal, Malawi and Rwanda, have already taken similar measures.