By Lansana Fofana
FREETOWN, Dec 23 1994 (IPS)

SIERRA LEONEANS WILL HAVE TO CUT DOWN ON THEIR BEER GUZZLING THIS FESTIVE SEASON — OR RISK GETTING ARRESTED.

“AS FROM TODAY, LAWS GOVERNING THE BUYING AND SELLING OF LIQUORS WILL BE ENFORCED IN ORDER TO CURB ALCOHOLIC CRIMES DURING AND AFTER THE FESTIVE SEASON,” SAID A POLICE RELEASE TUESDAY ON STATE RADIO.

ACCORDING TO THE REGULATION — BELIEVED TO BE BACKED BY THE RULING NATIONAL PROVISIONAL RULING COUNCIL (NPRC) — THE GROWING NUMBER OF ALCOHOL-RELATED CRIMES NECESSITATED THE PUNITIVE ACTION.

ALL BAR OWNERS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO CLOSE THEIR ESTABLISHMENTS AT 9 P.M. AND NOT TO REOPEN BEFORE 5 A.M. THE FOLLOWING MORNING.

FOR DECADES, LAWS BINDING THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC DRINKS REMAINED DORMANT. A CHILD OF 12 COULD BUY BEER AND DRINK IN PUBLIC. SIMILARLY, A DRUNKEN PERSON COULD ENTER A BAR AND PURCHASE A BOTTLE OF BEER WITHOUT A LEGAL PROBLEM.

HOWEVER, THE NPRC SAYS IT IS TIME TO CLEAN UP THE DEBAUCHERY AND MORAL DECAY WHICH, IT ALLEGES, WAS CULTIVATED DURING 24 YEARS OF CIVILIAN RULE.

“WE KNOW OF COURSE THAT THE REGULATION WILL MEET WITH STIFF OPPOSITION FROM SOCIALITES, BUT WE BELIEVE THE MOVE IS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,” SAID AN NPRC OFFICIAL.

THE POLICE REGULATION WARNS ALL BAR AND CLUB OWNERS NOT TO SELL LIQUOR TO INTOXICATED PERSONS, AND ALSO POLICE CONSTABLES IN UNIFORMS “UNLESS THEY HAVE AN AUTHORITY FROM SUPERIOR OFFICERS.”

THIS RULE DOES NOT INCLUDE MILITARY PERSONS.

“IT IS IRONIC BECAUSE YOU HARDLY SEE POLICEMEN IN UNIFORMS IN BARS,” SAID SORIE MANSARAY, A FREETOWN RESIDENT. “WHAT IS A COMMON EYESORE IS THE PREVALENCE OF RIFLE-BEARING SOLDIERS IN UNIFORM THAT STORM BARS AND MISBEHAVE WHENEVER THEY GET DRUNK.”

MUSU SILLAH, A FREETOWN CIVIL SERVANT, AGREED. “I THINK THE LAW SHOULD HAVE TARGETTED SPECIFICALLY THE MILITARY,” HE SAID. “THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE ALWAYS IN BARS AND CAUSING TROUBLE.”

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