French authorities have announced public alcohol consumption and sales bans in Paris, in a bid to ease pressure on the capital’s hospitals during the heatwave.

Parisians will be restricted from drinking alcohol in public from noon on Friday until 07:00 on Saturday. The measures will be in place during the same hours from Saturday to Sunday.

Heatwave conditions that have left Spain, the UK and France sweltering for days are set to shift to the east, with forecasters in Germany and the Czech Republic warning of extreme conditions.

Temperatures in Germany could hit 40C across the country on Friday. An extreme weather warning is now in place in much of the Czech Republic.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the health alert level was being raised to its highest, to boost hospital staffing and protect the vulnerable.

Bans on takeaway alcohol sales will be in effect from 18:00 on Friday until 07:00 on Saturday in the capital, and again during the same hours from Saturday to Sunday.

Licensed bars and restaurants are exempt from the restrictions.

After France recorded its hottest day on Wednesday for the second day in a row, records continue to be broken. Météo-France said the average minimum temperature reached 22C on Wednesday night. Nantes saw 27.2C in the north-west.

After days of record-breaking temperatures in France, officials have warned people to adjust their behaviour, with Health Minister Stéphanie Rist saying there were risks to young people as well as the elderly.

Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said the mortality rate was on the rise in the capital.

“We must not believe we are invulnerable,” he told French TV. “I am thinking especially about the youth… At about 19:30 last night… I saw 100 or so joggers on the street. Frankly, that’s irresponsible.”

“It’s fine to take a couple of days off from exercising,” he added.

Meanwhile, a three-year-old child has been found dead in a car in the Paris region, days after two young children were found dead in the family’s car in the southern town of Carpentras.

In the north-western city of Rennes, the head of the Accident and Emergency department Professor Louis Soulas linked the deaths of five or six people in their homes in the region to the extreme temperatures.

Emergency services had gone to check in on them after they had failed to pick up their phones during welfare calls, said Soulas: “It’s not just the very elderly; it’s people aged 60 and up.”

Rennes saw a record 40.6C on Monday, only for that to be broken by 41C the following day. The previous record dated back to 2022.

Three nuclear plants in France have gone offline due to the heat.

Some western regions are now bracing for huge thunderstorms from Thursday afternoon onwards.

Gusts of up to 110km/h (68mph) were expected on France’s Atlantic coast, and the first day of the Garorock festival has been cancelled in the Lot-et-Garonne region – where temperatures could reach 42C. (BBC)

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Police have arrested a 53-year-old woman in the Negombo area for possession of illegal liquor.

The arrest was made yesterday (April 12) during a raid conducted by officers of the Negombo Police Station.

During the operation, police seized 67.5 liters of illicit liquor, amounting to 90 bottles, from the suspect’s possession.

The suspect is a resident of Negombo.

Further investigations underway. (Newswire)

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MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena called on the government to consider reducing the price of locally manufactured alcohol, citing high prices as a burden on consumers.

Speaking in Parliament, Abeygunawardena questioned Deputy Minister of Economic Development Nishantha Jayaweera about the volume of alcohol sold and the excise revenue generated.

“Commonly referred to as ‘Gal’ this bottle is taxed Rs. 1832. This is the most commonly consumed bottle of arrack in Sri Lanka, whether it’s at a wedding or a funeral. In the end, the Health Minister will have to treat these consumers,” he said.

“In the end, it’s the Health Minister who has to treat these consumers,” he added, urging the government to review the pricing and tax policy on local alcohol products.

In response, Deputy Minister Jayaweera stated the government would consider the request. He also noted that Rs. 213.39 billion in excise revenue had been collected last year. (Newswire)

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A 35-year-old resident of Nawanagaya, Galnewa, has been arrested for the illegal possession of large stocks of alcohol following a special Police operation.

According to the Galnewa Police, a raid was carried out in Galnewa town on Tuesday evening based on a tip-off.

Officers recovered 54 litres of unlicensed government-issued arrack and 33 litres of beer from the suspect’s possession.

The operation was conducted as part of a countrywide crackdown on crime and narcotics, initiated under the directives of the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Further Police investigations are underway. (Newswire)

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A meeting has been held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and officials of the Excise Department on the efficient and effective regulation of alcohol and other approved intoxicants within the country to support economic growth. 

The discussion focused on increasing state revenue through proper regulation of the alcohol and tobacco industries, facilitating legal revenue generation, enforcing compliance with laws and regulations, implementing strong awareness programs against illegal alcohol, hazardous drugs, and psychoactive substances, preventing health risks associated with unregulated alcohol consumption, and ensuring public safety.

The meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat today further focused on addressing the current challenges faced by the Excise Department and achieving this year’s revenue targets.

A key point of the discussion was the integration of the department’s operations with the Inland Revenue Department to enhance efficiency and fairness in tax collection.

Discussions were held on revenue collection and protection through an effective decision-making and management mechanism in strategic and operational activities.

The necessity of formulating a human resource and technological development plan to enhance the efficiency of the Excise Department was also discussed.

The meeting was attended by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Commissioner General of Excise Udaya Kumara Perera, and a group of Excise Department officials. (Newswire)

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The Alcohol and Drugs Information Centre (ADIC) says per a survey conducted in 2022, Sri Lankans spent Rs. 1,210 million per day for the use of alcohol and cigarettes.

Issuing a statement, ADIC said Rs. 510 million was spent on the consumption of arrack, Rs. 180 million for beer, and Rs. 520 million for cigarettes. 

The ADIC further said that an expense of Rs. 237 billion was reported in the Health and Economic sectors due to the use of alcohol and drugs, while a tax revenue of Rs. 165.2 billion was reported in 2022.

A total of 15,000 deaths are reported annually due to the consumption of alcohol, while 20,000 deaths annually are reported due to the use of cigarettes. 

The ADIC pointed out that there was an increase of 80% in the spread of non-communicable diseases in Sri Lanka, of which consumption of alcohol and cigarettes were key causes. 

Following the 20% increase in taxes in 2023, the consumption of alcohol dropped by 8.3 million litres of alcohol, while tax revenue increased by Rs.11.6 billion.

Tax revenue from the sale of cigarettes increased by Rs. 7.7 billion, while cigarette sales dropped by 521.5 million units, ADIC added. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Excise Department is considering introducing a low-cost alcohol product as an alternative to illicit liquor.

The Commissioner General of the Excise Department told the media that illicit liquor was a serious issue in Sri Lanka, which caused the department to lose nearly 30% of its revenue. 

He further said that raids on illicit liquor dens were not the only solution for the issue and that an alternative solution was necessary. 

The Commissioner General of the Excise Department as such, following discussions with the Finance Ministry, a suggestion has been made to introduce a low-cost alcohol product as an alternative to illicit liquor.

Stating that the product will be subject to examinations by the Government Analysts Department for quality tests, he said with their approval it will be introduced to the local market.

The Commissioner General of the Excise Department said these measures are not being taken to increase revenue or promote alcohol, but instead, to assist in minimizing addiction to illicit liquor. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC) has presented a 09-point proposal to the new government on addressing issues surrounding alcohol consumption in the country. 

The ADIC states it is possible to reduce alcohol consumption by implementing indexation for alcohol products, thereby increasing government revenue while also decreasing the health and economic costs associated with alcohol use. 

Issuing a statement for World Alcohol-Free Day, commemorated on October 03, the ADIC points out that this also serves as a tangible step toward reducing the initiation of alcohol use.

“Although the government’s revenue from alcohol taxes in 2022 amounted to Rs. 165 billion, a study by the United Nations Development Fund revealed that the health and economic costs associated with alcohol use in our country totalled Rs. 237 billion within the same year,” it said.

The ADIC noted that at a time when a new government has assumed office with plans to introduce initiatives for the country’s advancement, it underscores the pressing need to promptly implement the following proposals aimed at addressing the alcohol problem in the country. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka’s Alcohol and Drug Information Center (ADIC) has presented twelve (12) recommendations for Presidential Candidates on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Control to be included in their election manifestos.

Issuing a statement, the ADIC said Presidential candidates have been requested to include in the election manifestos the ADIC’s suggestions to reduce tobacco, alcohol, and drug use taking into consideration the country’s future development.

“The presidential election to elect the 9th Executive President of the country is scheduled for September 21. In preparation for this, each presidential candidate will submit a manifesto. Our organization, the Alcohol and Drug Information Center (ADIC), which employs a scientific approach to reducing tobacco, alcohol, and drug use for the country’s future development, proposes the following recommendations for inclusion in these manifestos. An extension has been provided to each candidate regarding this matter,” the ADIC added.

Following are the ADIC’s recommendations for Controlling Tobacco, Alcohol, and Other Drug Problems;

1. Implement a scientific tax formula that increases excise duties on alcohol and cigarettes each year, aligned with inflation and economic growth.
2. Develop a systematic tax collection system to recover taxes already owed to the government by tobacco and alcohol companies, and to prevent such situations in the future.
3. Enforce existing laws and policies to reduce alcohol and tobacco use and promotion, and expedite the adoption of proposed amendments to the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act.

• Implement the amendment to ban the sale of cigarettes individually (as one or two cigarettes)
• Implement the amendment prohibiting the operation of outlets selling cigarettes and alcohol within 100 meters of educational institutions or religious places.
• Implement the amendment to designate all public places as smoke and alcohol-free zones.
• Implement the amendment to ban all forms of promotion of cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs in songs, albums, movies, teleplays, YouTube, Facebook, video chats, and other media, including the Internet.
• Implement the amendment to prohibit the sale of all types of cigarettes, tobacco-related products, alcohol, and other drugs over the Internet.
• Enact amendments to classify offences related to the National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Act as Cognisable offences (arrestable offences), and increase both fines and penalties for these violations.
• Enforce the law regarding the sale of smokeless tobacco products, as well as illegal alcohol and other drugs prohibited by law.
• Sponsorships by tobacco and alcohol companies are prohibited, yet violations persist. Take steps to prevent it.
• Prohibit both direct and indirect advertising of tobacco-related products through mainstream media and social media.

4. Cease the issuance of temporary liquor licenses and stop granting liquor licenses under the pretext of the tourism industry.

5. Implement the National Policy on Alcohol Control, which was approved by the Cabinet in 2016.

6. Enhance law enforcement to control illegal alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, and strengthen the institutions responsible for these efforts.

7. Implement a national prevention program aimed at children and youth to discourage the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs, with the goal of preventing these behaviours before they become habitual.

8. Prepare and implement counseling, treatment, and other support services to assist individuals struggling with alcohol use, and expand and enhance the “1948” Quit Line telephone counseling service to provide additional help for quitting smoking and alcohol use.

9. Our country has signed the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), an international agreement/ treaties for tobacco control, and is committed to achieving its goals within the specified time frame. 

10. Introduce a licensing system for the sale of cigarettes and tobacco-related products, and prohibit the sale of these items without a valid license. 

 11. Prevent interventions by the tobacco and alcohol industries that aim to weaken existing policies and block the introduction of new ones. 

12. To prevent the country from the trap of legalizing cannabis, educate the public about its harms, and enact and enforce new laws to address media promoting cannabis use.

The ADIC states that these recommendations are designed to enhance mechanisms for addressing the drug problem in Sri Lanka and to ensure the well-being of our citizens. 

The organization expressed hope that the Presidential Candidates will support these recommendations and include them in their manifestos.

“As the Alcohol and Drug Information Center (ADIC), we strongly emphasize that it is the responsibility of the future president to create an environment where all Sri Lankans can lead healthy, free, and happy lives, supported by the leadership and commitment to this program.

“As a nation, we face significant economic, health, and social challenges arising from alcohol and drug use. Alarmingly, smoking and alcohol consumption are responsible for nearly 100 premature deaths each day. Information from the Ministry of Health reveals that 8 out of 10 preventable deaths in Sri Lanka are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Notably, smoking and alcohol use account for 2 out of the 4 key factors contributing to these diseases,” it said.

The ADIC pointed out that in Sri Lanka, individuals spend 121 crore rupees daily on smoking and alcohol consumption and that smoking and alcohol use are no longer a source of income for the country. 

“While the alcohol excise revenue for 2022 was 165 billion rupees, the health and economic costs associated with alcohol use that year totalled 237 billion rupees. (Source: Investment Case for Alcohol Control in Sri Lanka 2022 – UNDP) 

“Additionally, although the government collected 88 billion rupees in cigarette taxes in 2016, studies have shown that the health and economic costs of cigarette use amounted to 214 billion rupees. (Source: Investment Case for Alcohol Control in Sri Lanka 2022 – UNDP)

“Therefore, the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs significantly impacts economic, health, and social issues. The government has the capacity to address these problems through the development and implementation of effective policies, “ the Alcohol and Drug Information Center (ADIC) added. (Newswire)

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State Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya revealed that 400 residents of Digana have signed a petition expressing their gratitude to the Divisional Secretariat for permitting the opening of a second liquor outlet in their town.

The Minister presented the petition in response to opposition inquiries regarding liquor sales and the issuance of licenses in the country.

The State Minister emphasized that while the government does not promote alcohol, there are two sides to the issue of liquor permits. “There are two sides to this issue. Only 404 licenses were issued out of 1424 applicants between July 01, 2022 to May 21, 2024. The issuance of licenses goes through a meticulous process and investigation. However, there is another side to this,” the State Minister said.

“For over 30 years, only a single liquor license was in operation in Digana, with the vendor engaging in monopolistic practices. People were unable to purchase products of their choice,” the Minister quoting the petition said.

According to the Minister, the petitioners highlighted that residents of Digana had to travel far to Menikhinna, Teldeniya, and Naththarampotha areas in order to purchase popular liquor products.

The sole liquor outlet in Digana sold products at Rs. 20 to 50 above market price, the letter said.

State Minister Siyambalapitiya noted that the petitioners appreciated the authorities for permitting the opening of a second liquor outlet, enabling competition and creating better opportunities for other businesses in the town.

Reiterating that the government does not promote alcohol consumption, Siyambalapitiya said that alcohol prices had increased by 108% in the year 2023.

“The government’s policy is evident from the excise tax revenue. Alcohol consumption decreased from 43 million litres in 2022 to 35 million litres in 2023, which is a 19% reduction. Meanwhile the annual liquor license fee has been increased by 13%,” the State Minister said.

Minister Siyambalapitiya revealed these details in response to charges by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa that the issuance of soft liquor permits have increased in the recent past. (Newswire)

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Alcohol production at two of the main distilleries of Sri Lanka has been temporarily suspended by the Excise Department.  

According to Excise Department sources, the two main distilleries are W.M. Mendis & Co. and Randenigala Distilleries.

They further said that the measure has been taken due to the failure to pay taxes.

The move comes after the Excise Department, in November, suspended the licences of Synergy Distilleries (Pvt) Ltd, Finnland Distilleries Corporation (Pvt) Ltd, Wayamba Distilleries, W M Mendis & Co Ltd and the Randenigala Distilleries Lanka (Pvt) Ltd were suspended. 

At the time, the Department said that the licences of the five liquor manufacturing companies were suspended after their annual licences had not been renewed due to the failure to pay tax arrears. 

Following the suspension, State Minister of Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya informed the Parliament that the five liquor production companies owed tax arrears amounting to Rs. 2,715 million to the government.

The State Minister further said that the total tax default with the three per cent penalty for default stands at Rs. 6,721 million. (NewsWire)

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