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SLMA writes to Basil opposing liquor sales

20 Sep 2021

  • Slams Excise Dept. for ‘enabling’ alcohol industry 
BY Pamodi Waravita The Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) wrote to Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday (20), raising concerns over allowing alcohol sales during the quarantine curfew and proposals to allow the sale of alcohol over the internet. “The SLMA is concerned that permission has been granted to restart the sale of alcohol even before the quarantine curfew is lifted. This will result in people gathering at alcohol selling points, thus breaking the curfew. They will spend whatever little money they have on alcohol and there will be an increase in incidents of domestic violence, child abuse, and road accidents. Some may also organise alcohol-centred gatherings at their homes, increasing the likelihood of further spreading the highly transmissible strain of the Covid-19 virus (Delta B.1.617.2 variant of Indian origin) that is circulating in the country,” the SLMA said in the letter. It added that if the internet-based sale of alcohol is allowed, it will circumvent the age, time, and place-based restrictions mandated through the Excise Ordinance as amended in 2009 and the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol (NATA) Act No. 27 of 2006 as amended. The SLMA has noted that the NATA specifically prohibits the advertisement of alcohol over the internet. “This will also contribute to hindering the efforts of the Government to ensure that families in need have enough food by distributing money directly to those in need. It will also place a significant burden on the already stretched Police. As you are aware, scientific studies have also shown that the economic costs of alcohol in Sri Lanka far exceed the revenue collected,” stated SLMA in the letter. The organisation has highlighted that the primary function of the Excise Department is to enforce alcohol-related laws in Sri Lanka and to prosecute perpetrators instead of issuing press statements which enable the industry whilst implying that the Department is unable to carry out its own mandate. The Excise Department announced on 17 September that wine stores and shops selling beer cans and bottles will be allowed to reopen, following which people – almost exclusively men, lined up to buy alcohol outside them. However, over the next two days there were no such long queues as sales had normalised and the pent up demand had been satisfied. However, the Health Ministry Communications Director Dr. Hemantha Herath has stated that the decision to reopen liquor stores was not done in consultation with the health authorities.


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