By JOSEPH MWAMUNYANGE

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The Tanzanian government has allowed distillers whose liquor was impounded after a sachet ban to repackage it in bottles and sell it.

The reprieve came two months after the government banned spirits sold in sachets.

Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment Charles Mwijage told The EastAfrican that he met distillers and manufacturers of the liquors and agreed that they could repackage them in bottles.

“But they would have to do so under strict supervision because we do not want any of the consignments that were impounded to get back into the market in sachets,” he said.

READ: Stiffer laws needed to stop trade in illicit drinks

Underage drinkers
Tanzania banned production and consumption of spirits packed in sachets from March 1 citing environmental and health reasons.

The ban also sought to prevent young people under the age of 18 from having access to alcohol, after learning that alcohol in sachets was affordable to this age set.

READ: Tanzania brewers adjust bottles, prices in satchet ban

After the ban was announced by Prime minister Kassim Majaliwa security organs went round impounding cartons of the spirits worth millions of shillings, from traders as well as distillers.
Tanzania Distilleries Ltd, which is part of Tanzania Breweries Ltd, is one of the most affected since it is the largest manufacturer of liquor in the country.
Some 32,634 cartons of sachets were impounded by the security services in Dar es Salaam worth about Tsh5 billion ($2.5 million), in Rukwa netting Tsh50 million ($25,000) worth and in Kilimanjaro, over Tsh8 million ($4,000). 

READ: Hard times ahead for brewers in bid to maintain profit margins