By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

The Government announcement of flexible opening hours of bars and liquor stores as a result of budget reading 2024 and its implications on the alcohol industry has a serious impact on health and economy of the country, the ADIC said yesterday.   

Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) Executive Director Sampath De Seram addressing a press briefing said flexible opening hours clearly contribute to an overall increase in alcohol consumption due to heightened availability, thereby rendering it a potentially counterproductive strategy.  

“Irrespective of whether the product is legal or illicit, alcohol itself is harmful in every aspect. Therefore, the government should be taking the required steps to reduce the overall alcohol consumption in the country,” he said.    The ADIC Sri Lanka has been engaged in demand reduction of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs in the country for over 30 years. “We are dedicated to providing accurate awareness information to the public regarding the health, social, economic and environmental consequences associated with the consumption of these substances,” De Seram said.   According to the data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health every eight out of 10 deaths in Sri Lanka are categorized as preventable deaths. Tobacco and alcohol use have been identified as two major risk factors, which are responsible for these preventable deaths, where approximately 40-50 deaths per day occur due to alcohol use.   

“Currently, alcohol is clearly a large burden to the country’s economy. In the year 2022, the excise revenue from alcohol tax was Rs.165.2 billion. Yet, the ‘Investment Case for Alcohol Control in Sri Lanka’, conducted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reported that the health and economic loss incurred on the government due to alcohol use is Rs.237 billion.   

Moreover, the citizens of our country spend Rs.590 million per day on beer and arrack and Rs.380 million per day on cigarettes, which results in a large overall economic burden.   
Amidst this situation, a massive amount of money that can be earned as tax revenue from alcohol and tobacco companies is being lost due to the lack of a rational tax policy for alcohol and tobacco products,” he further said.