By Alhagie Babou Jallow
Together Africa Organization, The Gambia, in partnership with Alcohol Policy Alliance ,The Gambia, last wweek, Wednesday, held a stakeholders’ engagement meeting at the Red Cross branch in Brikama.
The event, themed: “For discussion, burning issues related to alcohol and alcohol related issues”, was attended by The Gambia Police Force, Gambia Fire and Rescue Services, Brikama Area Council, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Department of HIV/Aids Secretariat and Soma Kairo Federation.
The event highlighted the procedures of acquiring a liquor license, who are the players or responsible institutions.
Speaking to Gambia Daily, Alagie B. Janneh, Chairman of Alcohol Policy Alliance (APA) The Gambia, in his presentation, outlined the five point models, recommended by the WHO Best Buys,for countries to adopt in reducing harm associated with alcohol and related issues. These include to strengthen restrictions on alcohol availability, advance and enforce drink-driving counter measures, facilitate access to screening, brief interventions and treatment, enforce bans or comprehensive restrictions on alcohol advertising, sponsorship, and promotions, raise prices on alcohol through excise taxes and pricing policies.
It also highlighted that APA Gambia has been supporting the National Alcohol Policy document from zero draft to 1st-2nd review.
Mr Janneh called on stakeholders to support the validation of the policy document to enable full implementation.
He underscored the alarming rate of deaths caused by crimes and risk factors such as: tobacco use, alcohol use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and indoor pollution, among other risks factors to cardiovascular diseases.
