Malawi’s top brewers back alcohol policy

Top brewers, Carlsberg Malawi and Chibuku Products Limited (CPL), have welcomed the drafting of Malawi’s alcohol policy, saying it will bring sanity on the market.

The two firms expressed their support at a consultative meeting held in Lilongwe last week.

Carlsberg Malawi chief executive officer Abel Chanje said contrary to fears from some quarters that the policy will stifle the industry, it will, in fact, bring sanity by, among other things, regulating the brewing, marketing and consumption of alcohol.

“As Carlsberg, we are here to stay. I don’t think the policy will destroy our business. We welcome it because we do not want to see people under the age of 18 drinking alcohol,” said Chanje.

Chibuku Products Limited human resources and corporate affairs manager Wise Chauluka said his company also supports the policy.

“We are not developing laws, but guidelines to support our industry so that we can work in harmony,” he said.

A consultant from Zambia, Dr Michael Chanda, addressed the meeting on how his country formulated its alcohol policy.

Chanda warned that formulating such a policy requires patience as suspicions and disagreements are bound to arise.