Liquor prices to go up

Ali: Increase too less a deterrent

PARADISE Beverages has informed retailers there will be an increase on three specific products effective January 18 but Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali said the increase was too less a deterrent to stop people, in particular men, from buying and consuming.

A new price list issued on Monday reveals a carton of long-neck Fiji Bitter will now cost $49.07, an increase of $2.13 from the current $46.94. There is an average of $2 increase on Bounty Rum products.

There was a huge public outcry after excise tax on alcohol was reduced by 50 per cent in the 2020-2021 budget. Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had announced the reduction in excise tax on alcohol was to improve the price competitiveness of the tourism industry and ignite domestic spending.

Ms Ali said their research showed risks of partner violence in Fiji was linked to alcohol consumption behaviour.

“We are already receiving cases of men fighting with their partners over their alcohol and yaqona money and this little increase will only aggravate the situation, making matters worse for many women, girls and children already burdened with family issues and abuse,” she said.

She said they had received reports of fights between people, mostly men, within communities and villages as a result of excessive alcohol consumption.

“To curb our alcohol-related social woes, I think our policymakers need to look at alcohol policy solutions such as reducing alcohol availability, regulating alcohol prices, as well as the treatment of alcohol use disorders,” she said.

“We also need to get our priorities right as 2021 already seems to be a very challenging year.”