Ghana’s premier beer producer, Accra Brewery Limited (ABL), is urging young persons under the age of 18 to desist from alcohol intake.
ABL, which has been embarking on an underage drinking campaign over the past two years, believes the campaign will go a long way to ensure young people stay healthy and enjoy their youthful stage.
Through a campaign, ABL has over the past three weeks interacted with about 2,100 teenagers from Swedru Secondary School, Adeiso Presbyterian Secondary School and a mix of student leaders from the Greater Accra Region Students Representative Councils.
The company intends to reach about 10,000 young people this year, to serve as ambassadors to reduce and stop young persons from consuming alcohol.
Corporate Affairs Manager of ABL, Cyrus DeGraft Johnson, said the campaign is to enlighten students on the numerous risks involved in taking alcohol at a tender age.
“We can’t sit and wait for alcohol abuse by young persons to become a national issue before we take steps to prevent it. We are acting now before it becomes a problem. We have received the tacit endorsement of the Ghana Education Service (GES), and this is a good enough encouragement to push ahead with our campaign.”
He further indicated that “ABL has over the years enforced the display of responsible consumption messages on its product labels and commercial communication marketing materials, AND continues to educate its employees on responsible alcohol consumption while organizing Responsible Retailing Programmes for its retailers.”
As a subsidiary of SABMiller Plc, ABL’s move is in fulfilment of the Global Beer, Wine and Spirits Producers’ Commitments to reduce underage drinking.
“Today’s talk has confirmed my conviction that alcohol consumption, particularly at an early age, will only destroy my brain and my future hopes and aspirations” Evans, a student at Adeiso Presbyterian secondary School said.
Another student of the Swedru Secondary School Kingsley said “There are many things that I never knew about alcohol consumption until I had this opportunity to listen to this informative delivery from Accra Brewery Limited. It has completely changed by perception about ‘enjoying life’ and I’ll be extra careful next time I go out with my friends.”
Assembly member for Adeiso, Eric Kwesi Mensah, commended ABL for the initiative, noting that, the issue of underage drinking has been a concern for authorities at the Adeiso Presbyterian Senior High School for a while.
“I am very hopeful that this activity will positively impact the lives of students here.”
About Accra Brewery Limited
Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) was established in 1931, becoming the first brewery in the then Gold Coast.
In 1975, the locally registered Accra Brewery Limited acquired Overseas Breweries assets.
As a subsidiary of SABMiller Plc, ABL understands that its profitability depends on healthy communities, growing economies and the responsible use of scarce natural resources.
ABL’s mission is to be the most admired Beverage Company in Ghana by bringing refreshment and sociability, improving livelihoods and helping build communities.
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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana