‘It’s Killing Many Young People’: Gin Named After Local Politician Faces Ban Amidst Rising Concerns Over Lethal and Addictive Properties
A ban on a well-known local gin in South Sudan is issued following concerns over its reported deadly and addictive qualities. (Photo: Asaase Radio)
Authorities in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria state have implemented a ban on the sale and consumption of a liquor named Royal Gin, commonly referred to as “Makuei Gin.” Asaase Radio reported Monday that this decision follows a surge in the gin’s popularity during the recent holiday season, which resulted in an unspecified number of fatalities, particularly among the youth.
The spirit is also claimed to have addictive properties. Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony made an announcement on Sunday, expressing deep concern over Makuei Gin and its effects on young people.
“I have banned this red beer, Royal Gin called ‘Makuei,'” Anthony said, per Asaase Radio. “Nobody should sell nor drink it because it is killing many young people.”
“Many young people, when they get drunk, they hit their mothers with machetes.”
The Anglican Church in South Sudan’s capital city, Juba, has endorsed the governor’s directive and called for rigorous enforcement of the ban.
According to the report, Makuei Gin earned its nickname in 2019 over an association with Information Minister Michael Makuei, who is described as “the most talkative minister in South Sudan.”
This prohibition aligns with the call made by Makuei in December 2023, advocating for both the cessation of Royal Gin production and a comprehensive ban on its distribution.
As reported by Sudans Post, Makuei previously highlighted concerns about the absence of proper licensing and quality checks for the gin brand, questioning whether the product meets safety standards for human consumption.
“That drink called Michael Makuei is harming our children, it is killing them, and it is killing elders and doing a lot of things, why should it not be banned?” he asked, per the news outlet. “Not only that but even those who sell them should also be questioned because we need to protect our people. We need to protect our children and ourselves.”
“This is a very serious that needs to be taken up seriously and prohibited at the borders and if it is produced here then it should be closed down and these people arrested,” Makuei added.
“If it is produced here, it means that are working without a license and if they are working even with a license, did [the Chairperson of the Bureau of Standards] check them so that they verify whether they are good quality or fit for human consumption or not?”
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