Illicit Alcohol a Public Threat



SAAPA-Zambia says abuse in Lusaka CBD risks health, safety, and urban order

By Francis Maingaila
Lusaka, Zambia24 – December 22, 2025
Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) – Zambia has warned that illicit and unregulated alcohol has become a serious public threat, urging the public to recognize its dangers, support policy implementation, and participate in building safer communities while ensuring economic alternatives for those affected.

Mrs. Evelyn Mooloko, immediate past President of SAAPA – Zambia, said the growing presence of illicit alcohol in Lusaka’s Central Business District (CBD) poses risks to public health, safety, and urban order.

Speaking at a media briefing at Mwiluzi Lodge on Monday, Mrs. Mooloko described the situation as a growing public nuisance and a looming public health concern that is placing pressure on the health system and undermining dignity in the city.

She said the CBD should remain a place of productivity, safety, and dignity, noting that it must reflect the pride of the city rather than becoming a hotspot for substances that destroy lives, families, and communities.

Mrs. Mooloko warned that failure to act decisively could allow harmful alcohol practices to become normalised and harder to reverse in the future, drawing comparisons with challenges posed by unregulated street vending.

She said illicit alcohol and harmful consumption carry serious health risks, including poisoning, long-term organ damage, mental health disorders, and preventable deaths.

While emphasizing the need for law enforcement, Mrs. Mooloko said criminalisation alone would not address the problem. 

She called for viable alternatives for kachasu producers through livelihoods diversification, skills training, and support to transition into safe and legal income-generating activities.

Mrs. Mooloko also urged the government to accelerate the implementation of the National Alcohol Policy and strengthen enforcement of the Liquor Licensing Act, stating that weak regulation, low prices, and easy access have fueled harmful consumption, especially in urban centres.

She warned that alcohol and drug abuse, if left unchecked, could undermine government efforts in protecting children’s rights, preventing gender-based violence, improving road safety, and enhancing economic productivity.

SAAPA-Zambia has proposed measures including the introduction of an alcohol levy to fund responses to alcohol-related harm, sustainable pricing mechanisms aligned with World Health Organization best practices, stricter regulation of alcohol availability and marketing, and improved oversight of licensed premises.

Mrs. Mooloko noted that Zambia’s improved fiscal space following debt restructuring presents an opportunity to prioritise alcohol and drug control as a cross-cutting development issue.

She concluded by announcing the handover of SAAPA-Zambia leadership to the incoming president, pastor, and Alcohol Policy Champion Ms. Lonicah Ngambi, who was absent due to a family matter, and called on stakeholders to support the new leadership

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