Praia, Oct. 28, 2024 (Lusa) - The head of Cabo Verde's Less Alcohol More Life Foundation called on Monday for candidates in December's local elections to commit to complying with the new Alcohol Law and suspending new sales authorisations.
"We want to ask the candidates to take clear stances and make strong commitments regarding the prevention of alcohol abuse," said Manuel Faustino at a press conference in Praia.
The Alcohol Law came into force in Cabo Verde on 5 October 2019 and prohibits any form of advertising of alcoholic beverages, sales to people under 18 and on public roads, in street vending or in kiosks.
Manuel Faustino said that the electoral process is a moment of "negotiation, during which political candidates are willing to contribute to solving the problems of the community and its citizens".
"Let them commit, for example, to organising sports and cultural activities without alcoholic beverages and to enacting a moratorium on authorising the opening of new sales establishments," he added.
Although there are no figures, Faustino said that alcoholism is a serious problem for Cabo Verdeans, both in terms of mental health, domestic violence and sexual abuse, as well as the consequences in terms of accidents at work and in traffic.
"The three main causes of death in the country are alcohol-related: cardiovascular, pulmonary and oncological diseases. All of these are closely linked to the abusive consumption of alcoholic beverages," he added.
The foundation believes that the elections scheduled for 1 December represent a "very important moment", proposing a "term of commitment" to the candidates in the country's 22 districts.
The document calls for the candidates, if they win, to "strictly comply with the legal precepts regarding the import and distribution of alcoholic beverages, with special attention to the obligations assigned to the municipal council regarding the application of the Alcohol Law, promoting its dissemination".
In addition, a one-year suspension of the granting of new authorisations to sell alcoholic beverages is requested, along with a careful analysis of all renewal requests.
Preventive activities are also called for, in partnership with other actors, especially aimed at children, young people and families, through sporting and cultural events.
In August, Faustino warned of the high consumption of alcohol in Cabo Verde, especially during the holiday period, and called for greater supervision of the trade, especially sales to children.
The Less Alcohol More Life Foundation was created in September 2022 to continue the campaign of the same name, which was started in 2018 by former Cabo Verde president Jorge Carlos Fonseca, when Manuel Faustino was head of the president's office.
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