Awerial County of Lakes bans sale of alcohol, impose harsh penalties  

JUBA – Local authorities in Awerial County of Lakes State have banned the consumption and sale of local liquor, saying that it will impose harsh penalties against violators of the order to curb insecurity in the area.

The directive aimed at curbing increasing alcohol drinking among the youth and elderly people.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Tuesday, Awerial County Commissioner Simon Jok Geng said they have imposed stringent penalties of six months jail on those caught distributing and selling alcohol as well as three months on those found consuming it.

“If we find anyone drinking alcohol knowing very well that it has been banned, you will be arrested and taken to custody,” Jok told said from Mingkaman.

Jok said reiterated his commitment to enforcing strident measures to curb drinking of local liquor in the area.

“Alcohol is harmful to people. When people drink alcohol, they cause havoc in the community which results in insecurity,” Jok said.

“They are some criminals who buy alcohol and consume it with an intention to give the strength to raid cattle and cause other havoc in the community,” Jok added.

He said, anybody found selling or making alcohol will be taken to prison and dealt within the court of law

“There some individuals were arrested and taken to court but there are other people who still refused to adhere to this order,” he said.

“The police officers executing the order on banned alcohol ended up consuming the alcohol they confiscated,” he added.

He advised women still selling alcohol to desist from such act which is prohibited in the county.

“I would like to advise those women who are still making alcohol to cease it because alcohol is causing a lot of problems in our county,” he stated.

“We have put down some measures to control the importation of alcohol to the county. We have confiscated server dozens of alcohol and we will continue until people observe the order,” he told Sudans Post.