STORY: Rwanda launches campaign to tackle rising alcohol use among youth
DATELINE: July 23, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:20
LOCATION: Kigali
CATEGORY: SOCIETY
 
SHOTLIST:
1. various of Iwacu Plus 250 Bar
2. various of Francois Uwinkindi, Division manager of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC)
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): FRANCOIS UWINKINDI, Division manager of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC)
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): YVONNE AHISHIZE, Manager of Iwacu Plus 250 Bar and Restaurant in Kigali
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Kinyarwanda): TEDDY NIYONGIRA, Waitress of Iwacu Plus 250 Bar and Restaurant in Kigali
 
STORYLINE:
 
The Rwandan government has launched a campaign called "TunyweLess" ("Let's Drink Less" in Kiswahili) after a recent survey showed a significant increase in alcohol consumption among people, especially the youth, in the country.
 
The campaign aims to urge people to either stop drinking or drink less, Francois Uwinkindi, division manager of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), told Xinhua in a recent interview in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.
 
SOUNDBITE 1 (English): FRANCOIS UWINKINDI, Division manager of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC)
"An increase in youth consuming alcohol. I think some of those reasons behind we have seen that one is peer pressure, but also on the other side, there is also what you can say unemployment. Empowering our youth, creating jobs for our youth, creating alternatives for them so that they have something else to do instead of going to drink."
 
In June, an RBC population-based national survey on the prevalence of NCD risk factors in Rwanda showed that alcohol consumption in the country has increased from 41 percent in 2013 to 48 percent in 2022.
 
The survey involved face-to-face interviews and physical and biochemical measurements of 5,676 people aged 18-69 from all four provinces of Rwanda and the City of Kigali.
 
According to Uwinkindi, the rise in alcohol consumption, especially among individuals between 40 and 49 years of age, and the youth, is a cause for concern.
 
Uwinkindi said to combat the growing trend of alcohol consumption among the youth, the government is focusing on awareness campaigns to educate people about the dangers of excessive drinking.
 
He pointed out that limiting alcohol advertisements, similar to the approach taken with tobacco, is being considered to reduce its appeal.
 
Uwinkindi added, other potential strategies include increasing taxes on alcohol, regulating commercialization and drinking hours, and enforcing laws against drunk driving are preventive measures the government should also look into.
 
He said that the government is emphasizing family education and going back to cultural values to teach children about the dangers of alcohol consumption.
 
"Empowering the youth by creating job opportunities and promoting a bright future that avoids alcohol abuse is also part of the strategy," Uwinkindi said.
 
According to him, counseling and rehabilitation services are available in Rwanda to assist individuals battling alcohol addiction. The focus, however, is primarily on prevention rather than solely relying on rehabilitation centers.
 
Yvonne Ahishize, manager of Iwacu Plus 250 Bar and Restaurant in Kigali, told Xinhua that the restaurant has joined the campaign to raise awareness and limit excess alcohol consumption among people, especially the youth.
 
SOUNDBITE 2 (English): YVONNE AHISHIZE, Manager of Iwacu Plus 250 Bar and Restaurant in Kigali
"We have rules and regulations as the internal regulations, we add the lines that they are not allowed to give more drinks to someone, they are not in a good condition. In that case, our waiters need to communicate to their customers. And we try to see how that people can reach more as he or she is our client."
 
Teddy Niyongira, a waitress at the restaurant, said that when they see customers continuing to ask for more alcohol even when they are already too drunk, they would tell them that no more alcohol is available.
 
SOUNDBITE 3 (Kinyarwanda): TEDDY NIYONGIRA, Waitress of Iwacu Plus 250 Bar and Restaurant in Kigali
"In some cases, we inform our customers items are out of stock. If they seem impaired by alcohol, we involve our manager or supervisor, sharing our concerns about the customers' alcohol consumption, which may exceed their capacity to handle. Our primary objective is to safeguard our customers from any potential inconvenience that could arise. Therefore, we explore appropriate ways to help them while ensuring a positive outcome."
 
At the launch of the report findings, Rwandan Health Minister Sabin Nsanzimana emphasized the need to reverse the trend of alcohol consumption in Rwanda. He warned that excessive alcohol consumption is linked to NCDs, including certain types of cancer.
 
The survey also showed that the frequency of alcohol consumption was higher in men (61.9 percent) than in women (34.3 percent). Among the provinces, the western provinces had the highest rate of heavy alcohol drinking.
 
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kigali.
(XHTV)