As if Covid-19 was not enough to give people sleepless nights, some brands of locally distilled cheap liquor is taking its toll on many people, A few weeks ago, footage of a “rebel” village in Gikondo circulated on social media, it showed people who were in violation of the curfew visibly drunk on some cheap but very potent liquor. Many liquor brands have invaded the market at an alarming rate. One particular brand that had been recalled by the Foods and Drugs Authority recently resurfaced with alleged dangerous crdentials. It was suggested that that particular drink had caused some people to go blind and even death. One cannot fail but to wonder; once FDA has banned a product, how often does it go on the field to find out whether its regulations are being obeyed or honoured? FDA is a fairly new organization and could still be experiencing some teething problems, but now it is time to tell them that the honeymoon is over. Any food or drink that does not bear the quality sign from Rwanda Standards Bureau should not be allowed on shelves and frequent inspections should be carried out. But most important of all; unscrupulous business people should be dealt with severely, the same goes for local leaders who keep a blind eye on such activities. In this particular case of the killer liquor, the licensing body should assume full responsibility for endangering the lives of many yet they still have the threat of Covid-19 to contend with.
