Hundreds of cartons of banned alcohol were set on fire yesterday in Torit Town, Eastern Equatoria, to curb alcoholism.
A number of foreign liquors were banned in November last year by a resolution passed by the state parliament.Eastern Equatoria Local Government and Law Enforcement minister, Nartisio Manir Loluke, said the burning of the alcohol demonstrates the government’s intolerance towards selling the outlawed liquors in the sate.
He said the banned liquors’ bonfire was a sign that the state wants a peaceful South Sudan.
Mr Manir stressed that these types of alcohol are consumed in Uganda and Kenya.
He argued that there was no reason for them to be consumed in South Sudan.
He said that the resolution to ban the listed alcohol aimed to rectify the social damage caused by alcoholism.
Mr Manir said alcohol consumption was high among the youth and elders.
He added that alcoholism has rendered youths unproductive and the elderly people to die very early before reaching their life expectancy.
The resolution of the Eastern Equatoria Parliament and an order from Governor Louis Lobong Lojore outlawed transportation, trade, and consumption of a number of alcoholic drinks in the state.