Of alcohol, culture and liberty

 

However, unbeknownst to many, the president was planning an onslaught against the lifeblood of the trust and its parent company Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KBL). Recently, Khama caused a stir by announcing that his government will slap a massive 70 percent tax hike on all alcohol products in the country to control drinking. He promised that if the measure is not effective, he will increase the tax again to achieve his aim.

Any discussion that centres on alcohol ends up being swayed off-line by emotive and subjective thinking with very little rationality. The voices of those who attach emotions and subjectivity to the matter prevail. Alcohol consumers are often seen as incapable of deciding their own fate. This is despite the rich history and culture of the 'elders' brew' as some used to call alcohol.

The ancient Egyptians are said to have celebrated alcohol, believing it to be the invention of one of their gods - Osiris. For many Bakalanga who follow Mwali, it is a brew that is often poured on the ground as food to god. To most revellers, there is no party without alcohol. The Babylonians worshiped a wine goddess and other wine deities.

Writer, Patrick McGovern says that in China, alcohol known in Chinese as Jiu: 'Was considered a spiritual food rather than a material (physical) food. In ancient times people always drank when holding a memorial ceremony, offering sacrifices to gods or their ancestors, before going into battle, celebrating victory, before feuding and official executions, for taking an oath of allegiance, while attending the ceremonies of birth, marriage, reunions, departures, death, and festival banquets.' These cultures encouraged modesty and drinking for pleasure while retaining rationality.

However, alcohol remains controversial and demonised in some quarters. Many have termed it the 'forbidden waters'. Botswana Kwasa Kwasa sensation, Chris Manto 7 made a song denouncing it.

The controversy behind alcohol drinking dates many years back. Some say that Christ did not ban drinking. He equated wine to blood that washes away peoples' sins. Botswana historians Thomas Tlou and Neil Parsons, say that Khama the Great of the Bamangwato imposed a ban on drinking because it lulled his people as the colonialists grabbed their land.

McGovern traces alcohol drinking to a period predating some staples such as bread. 'The discovery of late Stone Age beer jugs has established the fact that purposely fermented beverages existed at least as early as 10,000 BC. It has been suggested that beer may have preceded bread as a staple,' he says.

Perhaps that is why to Batswana like Larona Makgoeng, alcohol is food. 'Alcohol as a product is not dangerous if used properly. Food too, which is the very basis of life sustenance can end lives through the manifestation of different diseases that can be chronic and life threatening, diabetes and hypertension for example, but this does not mean we have to stop eating food. What is key is that we have to practice safe eating habits in order to keep at bay any of the risks that may be accompanied with consuming that type of food.'

Larona Makgoeng who works in the alcohol industry says that what is sad is that the majority of innocent, responsible and mature drinkers are punished because of the few whose drinking is a cause for concern. He says the government does not realise that it will make families suffer by targeting the alcohol industry. Youthful Mmoloki Gaopatwe says there will be problems in families because of the attempt to control alcohol drinking.

The drinkers will invest more money in buying alcohol and the families will starve. This will create a problem,' he says.

Keletso Frazer, a taxi driver says the hike in alcohol tax is a directive that will not help the country. 'Some of us were brought on profit raised from alcohol sales. Our leaders know that they have everything and can afford to raise their kids without the help of alcohol, but what about the rest of the people? First they came up with the reducing of trading hours and now this,' he says throwing his arms in the air. 'We know some people want to stop it, but they will fail just like they cannot stop Marijuana. They should first stop drinking at their bar in Parliament,' he adds.