The Vision for Alternative Development (VALD) is calling for a stronger commitment of government to intensify the protection of people’s right to live free from alcohol, promote health and development through alcohol prevention.

The call was to compel political leaders to step up and take decisive action to protect and support all people who want to make healthy life choices for themselves, their families, communities and country and not to expose them to alcohol and harmful effects.

Alcohol is a massive obstacle to sustainable development for individuals, communities and entire societies, as it adversely affects 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

The call is also necessitated by the fact that the alcohol industry is pushing aggressively to convert , Children, youth and adults into alcohol consumers and in doing so, threatens the health, well-being and socio-economic development of the people and the country as a whole.

VALD in a statement signed the Programmes Director, Labram M. Musah said living free from alcohol and making alcohol-free choices helps promote societal development, economic prosperity and thriving communities.

“We call on our government through the Ministry of Health, and Food and Drugs Authority to finalize and enact the national alcohol regulations,” it stated.

It hopes such effort by the Ghanaian institutions will help reduce the alcohol burden and non-communicable diseases in the country as well as promote the well-being and happiness of the people through protecting and supporting alcohol abstainers.

“We recommend a scientifically proven, highly effective highly effective alcohol policy solutions recommended by the WHO (World Health Organisation), especially as raising alcohol taxes, banning alcohol advertising, and reducing the availability of alcohol in our communities,” it said.

The statement was issued to mark World Alcohol-Free Day and to celebrate the benefits of the alcohol-free way of life as well as to encourage decision-makers to do more in order to protect and promote the human right to health and development through alcohol policy solutions.

This year’s celebration focuses on the benefits of making alcohol-free choices, empowering people to live healthy lives and build sustainable communities.

More than 3 billion people or 57% of the global adult population live free from alcohol, according to the WHO – many of them living in low- and middle income countries

By Akutu Dede Adimer