Drug Fight Malawi Alcohol Policy: The need for a broad consultation process in Malawi 11th November, 2008, Nkopola Lodge, Mangochi- Malawi. By Nelson B Zakeyu Executive Director Drug Fight Malawi ; Cell; Drug Fight Malawi The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country!

Preamble Alcohol is widely consumed in the world and moderate consumption is accepted in many countries (World Bank 2006). Alcohol is widely consumed in the world and moderate consumption is accepted in many countries (World Bank 2006). Alcohol has important cultural and symbolic meanings in many societies. Alcohol has important cultural and symbolic meanings in many societies. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Preamble In Malawi, Alcohol consumption is on the increase and is high among youths, a situation which is very alarming considering its negative impact In Malawi, Alcohol consumption is on the increase and is high among youths, a situation which is very alarming considering its negative impact The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Preamble Pilot studies conducted so far in some areas of Malawi have linked alcohol use to several problems such as increase in HIV transmission ( Center for Social Research of the University of Malawi and IMCDC, 2004), domestic and gender based violence (Girl Guide Association of Malawi, January, 2008) Pilot studies conducted so far in some areas of Malawi have linked alcohol use to several problems such as increase in HIV transmission ( Center for Social Research of the University of Malawi and IMCDC, 2004), domestic and gender based violence (Girl Guide Association of Malawi, January, 2008) The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Preamble It is evident (despite lack of country wide evidence based information) that the harm of use of alcohol is negatively contributing to the health and social sufferings of Malawians It is evident (despite lack of country wide evidence based information) that the harm of use of alcohol is negatively contributing to the health and social sufferings of Malawians The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Preamble Increased consumption of alcohol in Malawi is silently destroying lives of people. Increased consumption of alcohol in Malawi is silently destroying lives of people. Some people, particularly men are found totally drug at as early as 6.00 hrs daily. Some people, particularly men are found totally drug at as early as 6.00 hrs daily. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Preamble Media has on a number of occasion reported deaths of people due to alcohol consumption particularly taken with empty stomach. Media has on a number of occasion reported deaths of people due to alcohol consumption particularly taken with empty stomach. Drug Fight Malawi The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country!

Preamble Steps therefore have to be taken to address the problem of harmful use of alcohol for National Development. Steps therefore have to be taken to address the problem of harmful use of alcohol for National Development. Formulation of National Alcohol Policy is one of the first important steps to address the problem. Formulation of National Alcohol Policy is one of the first important steps to address the problem. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi he

Preamble CSOs realize that the Government has the responsibility of formulating Policies CSOs realize that the Government has the responsibility of formulating Policies The development of the policy has to be done in collaboration with CS organizations. The development of the policy has to be done in collaboration with CS organizations. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country!

Goal for the Alcohol Policy The aim for the policy is the creation of favorable conditions for the prevention of the harm from alcohol consumption in Malawi. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Purpose of the Policy To regulate alcohol activities in Malawi in order to prevent people from harm from alcohol consumption. To regulate alcohol activities in Malawi in order to prevent people from harm from alcohol consumption. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Some of the possible areas of focus in the Policy Minimum legal age to buy and take alcohol Minimum legal age to buy and take alcohol Restrictions on hours/days of sale of alcohol, not only in cities but through out the country Restrictions on hours/days of sale of alcohol, not only in cities but through out the country Retail sales of alcohol Retail sales of alcohol Taxes on Alcohol Taxes on Alcohol The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Some of the possible areas of focus in the Policy Lowered limits for blood alcohol concentration Lowered limits for blood alcohol concentration Administrative suspension of licenses for driving under influence of alcohol and reinforce the penalties. Administrative suspension of licenses for driving under influence of alcohol and reinforce the penalties. Graduated licensing for novice drivers (i.e., issuing licenses with limitations on driving privileges such as a zero limit for blood alcohol concentrations to those seeking for license. Graduated licensing for novice drivers (i.e., issuing licenses with limitations on driving privileges such as a zero limit for blood alcohol concentrations to those seeking for license. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Some of the Possible areas of focus Note has to be taken that while adhering to international standards, alcohol policy ought to be tailored according to the needs of Malawians. Note has to be taken that while adhering to international standards, alcohol policy ought to be tailored according to the needs of Malawians.

Advocacy Considering that programs on prevention of harmful use of alcohol are not yet famous in Malawi, and also that the development of National Policy require broad participation, Drug Fight Malawi together with its stakeholders is continuously in the process of gathering, Considering that programs on prevention of harmful use of alcohol are not yet famous in Malawi, and also that the development of National Policy require broad participation, Drug Fight Malawi together with its stakeholders is continuously in the process of gathering, The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Advocacy organizing and analyzing information to be communicated through various channels. organizing and analyzing information to be communicated through various channels. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Advocacy Information will be communicated through various channels with a view not only to raising resources for prevention activities on use of alcohol but also gaining political and social leadership acceptance and commitment for a development program, thereby preparing the society for its acceptance Information will be communicated through various channels with a view not only to raising resources for prevention activities on use of alcohol but also gaining political and social leadership acceptance and commitment for a development program, thereby preparing the society for its acceptance The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

What is the aim for advocacy? The goal is to make prevention of use of alcohol in Malawi one of the national priority issues. The goal is to make prevention of use of alcohol in Malawi one of the national priority issues. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Initiative taken by Drug Fight Malawi Intr. to Drug Fight Malawi A legally local registered NGO A legally local registered NGO Member of CONGOMA Member of CONGOMA Registered with NGO-Board of Malawi Registered with NGO-Board of Malawi Co-opted member of the IMCDC Co-opted member of the IMCDC The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Initiative taken by Drug Fight Malawi Embarked on the consultation meetings related to alcohol activities with CSOs, Govt depts. Embarked on the consultation meetings related to alcohol activities with CSOs, Govt depts. 1. It was from these consultation meetings where a need for National Alcohol Policy Advocacy Conference emerged The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Initiative taken by Drug Fight Malawi 2. The Conference was meant to find out the general consensus of Civil Society Organizations and Govt Agencies on the requirement of Alcohol Policy for Malawi and to strategize way forward The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

National Alcohol Policy Advocacy Conferences. Two conferences have been conducted - At these conferences, delegates made the following resolutions: Reached a consensus on the need for Malawi to come up with the National Alcohol Policy Reached a consensus on the need for Malawi to come up with the National Alcohol Policy The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

National Alcohol Policy Advocacy conferences Endorsed the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security as a lead Ministry in the Alcohol Policy Processes, after considering the work of the IMCDC. Endorsed the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security as a lead Ministry in the Alcohol Policy Processes, after considering the work of the IMCDC. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

National Alcohol Policy Advocacy conferences  Participants elected a Task Force Committee on Alcohol Policy in Malawi drawn from all sectors of society. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

List of names of members of the committee Chairperson Martha Kwataine of Malawi Health Equity Network Chairperson Martha Kwataine of Malawi Health Equity Network Vice Chair Edward Chikhwana of MANASO Vice Chair Edward Chikhwana of MANASO Secretariat; Drug Fight Malawi Secretariat; Drug Fight Malawi The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Secretary for Health Secretary for Health Secretary for Trade and Industry Secretary for Trade and Industry Secretary for Local Government Secretary for Local Government Police Headquarters-HIV Section Police Headquarters-HIV Section Committee members The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Committee Members Link for Education Governance Link for Education Governance Public Affairs Committee Public Affairs Committee Human Rights Consultative Committee Human Rights Consultative Committee Youth on the Move Youth on the Move Care Malawi Care Malawi Outreach Scout Foundation (OSF) Outreach Scout Foundation (OSF) The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Some of the functions of the Task Force on Alcohol Policy To link civil society and non-governmental organizations with the lead Ministry To link civil society and non-governmental organizations with the lead Ministry To strategize activities leading to the formulation of the Alcohol Policy To strategize activities leading to the formulation of the Alcohol Policy To coordinate National Alcohol Policy consultation meetings To coordinate National Alcohol Policy consultation meetings To coordinate publicity programs of the policy. To coordinate publicity programs of the policy. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Why is it important for all stakeholders’ involvement?  Acceptance and Ownership  Commitment The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Outcome This has promoted wider participation of various stakeholders including the Government. This has promoted wider participation of various stakeholders including the Government. Increased knowledge among CSOs (on linkages of alcohol consumption, Health, Social & Econ. Problems) Increased knowledge among CSOs (on linkages of alcohol consumption, Health, Social & Econ. Problems) The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Outcome Collaboration among various stakeholders and other partners. Collaboration among various stakeholders and other partners. Interest by Ministry of Home Affairs through the IMCDC to work with Civil Society Organization as regards the development of the Policy Interest by Ministry of Home Affairs through the IMCDC to work with Civil Society Organization as regards the development of the Policy The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Increased mobilization of CSOs and facilitated linkages between CSOs and the Govt. Increased mobilization of CSOs and facilitated linkages between CSOs and the Govt. Outcome The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Lessons learnt People are committed to participate in addressing issues affecting them People are committed to participate in addressing issues affecting them Willingness of the Govt to support the initiative Willingness of the Govt to support the initiative The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Lessons learnt Individuals in Malawi do not appreciate the dangers of the harmful use of alcohol and silent negative contribution to National development. Individuals in Malawi do not appreciate the dangers of the harmful use of alcohol and silent negative contribution to National development. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

There is a fear from some quarters that formulation of Alcohol Policy would necessitate the ban on alcohol consumption in Malawi. There is a fear from some quarters that formulation of Alcohol Policy would necessitate the ban on alcohol consumption in Malawi. What are some of the challenges? The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Inadequate expertise in the Alcohol Policy formulation and on its implementation. Inadequate expertise in the Alcohol Policy formulation and on its implementation. Resources. Resources. Society is not aware of the harm of use of alcohol as this program is new in Malawi Society is not aware of the harm of use of alcohol as this program is new in Malawi What are some of the challenges? The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Capacity building at all levels (Task Force Committee, secretariat and stakeholders) Capacity building at all levels (Task Force Committee, secretariat and stakeholders) Recommendations The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Recommendations Recommendations Political will and commitment by the Government and Legislative Political will and commitment by the Government and Legislative The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Recommendations Combined efforts from all stakeholders Combined efforts from all stakeholders The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

Conclusion The issue of harmful use alcohol is given less attention yet it is one of the contributing factors to poverty in Malawi. The issue of harmful use alcohol is given less attention yet it is one of the contributing factors to poverty in Malawi. In an effort to achieve development in Malawi, issues of alcohol consumption need to be taken into consideration as well. In an effort to achieve development in Malawi, issues of alcohol consumption need to be taken into consideration as well. The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi

THE END! Thank you for your attention Thank you for your attention The Work towards Sustainable Development of the Country! Drug Fight Malawi