The Coalition Against Illegal Alcohol Uganda Branch (CAIA-Uganda) has initiated a country-wide initiative designed to prompt Ugandans to reflect carefully before consuming drinks throughout this holiday period, when drinking increases and numerous individuals come into contact with unlawful alcoholic beverages.
Illegal alcoholic drinks, mainly distilled beverages, continue to be among the longest-standing but poorly managed public health issues in Uganda, especially around festive seasons when consumption rises. A new report entitled “Public Health Consequences of Unsafe Alcohol Use in Uganda – 2025,” released by Arrow Empirical Research & Skills Enhancement Co. Ltd (AERSE), along with information provided by Euromonitor International, states that approximately 65–67 percent of all alcohol ingested in Uganda comes from illegal sources.
The research also points out alarming trends, such as starting illegal alcohol use at a young age, typically under 18, and reveals that forty percent of those who consume alcohol illegally do so every day, indicating long-standing and dangerous drinking habits that tend to worsen during holiday events.
The initiative was formally introduced on Monday via impactful roadside events, including a large bottle display at Garden City and Jinja Road traffic circles. This exhibit serves as an eye-catching symbol of the concealed risks associated with illegal alcohol, particularly during periods when usage tends to increase, encouraging people to take a moment, reflect, and opt for wiser, more secure decisions throughout the holiday season.
The CAIA-Uganda initiative will implement this campaign during the holiday period and beyond into the next year, utilizing radio broadcasts, printed materials, community outreach efforts, and public educational programs aimed at raising consciousness about illegal alcoholic beverages, mainly distilled drinks, challenging misconceptions, and encouraging thoughtful choices both personally and within communities.
The timing of the campaign around holiday seasons is essential because of frequent social events, festivities, and greater access to alcoholic beverages, all of which increase the chances of encountering illegal alcohol that isn’t properly regulated, is potentially dangerous, and lacks proper safety checks. Illegal distilled drinks are typically found in tiny plastic bottles, repurposed brand-name containers, or poured out of large cans, causing confusion among buyers who may not be able to tell them apart from legal items.
This initiative aims to prompt Ugandans to thoughtfully evaluate the alcoholic beverages they drink, focus on safeguarding both individual and community well-being by looking out for one another, and understand that illegal alcohol—particularly distilled drinks—carries serious health dangers as well as wider societal and financial impacts such as higher medical expenses, lower work efficiency, and pressure on households and local areas. The misuse of any type of alcohol is strongly advised against.
Officials stated that the Coalition also promotes the idea of legally aged individuals who decide to consume alcohol avoiding illegal beverages and instead choosing authorized products that adhere to set safety regulations, thereby protecting minors from access.
Through targeted public initiatives, active involvement of local communities, and ongoing outreach throughout this holiday period, CAIA-Uganda seeks to minimize damage, safeguard people’s well-being, and promote more secure festivities nationwide.
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Tagged: Uganda, East Africa
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