The rationale behind the ban of alcohol sachets: results from a documentary analysis and qualitative study in Malawi and Uganda

Citation

Uny I, Mbona Tumwesigye N, Namanda C, Kaneka B, Malagasi D, Parry C, Orgill M, Fitzgerald N & Bauld L (2023) The rationale behind the ban of alcohol sachets: results from a documentary analysis and qualitative study in Malawi and Uganda., 24.10.2023-26.10.2023. https://gapc2023.samrc.ac.za/Programme.pdf

Abstract
Background: Drinkers in Africa consume 21% more alcohol per day than the global average and alcohol consumption appears to be rising across the region. Concerns about harmful consumption arising from alcohol packaged in small cheap containers led to the ban the manufacturing, distribution and selling of sachets of alcohol in Malawi in 2016 and Uganda in 2019. This study aims are: to understand the rationale for the bans and their implementation mechanisms. Aims: this paper will present preliminary results from an ongoing qualitative study analysing the formulation and implementation of the ban of alcohol sachets. Methods: This comparative paper will draw on a documentary analysis of any legislative and regulation documents, high court and district court rulings, consultation documents, relevant policies and reports) relating to the sachets bans. It will also draw on 18 semi-structured interviews with key informants (9 conducted in Malawi and 9 in Uganda) including government representatives, NGOs and civil society coalitions. We will use the Health Policy Analysis (HPA) framework and the HPA triangle to analyse and present for each country the context and process of the ban, the actors involved, their power sources and interests; the ideas that shaped those policies and their intended implementation. Discussion/Conclusion: this comparative analysis may highlight significant differences between the 2 countries regarding this policy, and reveal contextual factors important for the transferability of findings to other Sub-Saharan countries, that may inform similar alcohol policy development and implementation across the region.