Bottoms Up

Fact.  In 2004, the World Health Organization ranked Uganda as leading alcohol consumer in the world.  I cannot find any recent data but I’d bet my monthly living allowance that this hasn’t changed too much.  Uganda is definitely still in the top five.

This statistic is truly unfortunate for a number of reasons.  One, this is one of the major driving forces of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  We all know what tends to happen when you drink alcohol.  You make poor choices.  Uganda was the poster child for decreasing the rate of HIV/AIDS but in the past couple of years this number has been on the rise.  Probably contributed in help by alcohol consumption.  Two, the increased use of alcohol is responsible for many of the mental health related complications you will find in individuals here.  Three, Ugandan families are finding themselves strapped for shillings.  I have come interacted with families where the children are malnourished because the men in the family spend the money on alcohol rather than proper nutrition. 

The alcohol content in the drinks here are more than what you may be used to, with beers having a 10-20% volume and spirits ranging from 30-60% volume.  Don’t let this number fool you though because the locals can pound them back. 

With roughly 75% of Ugandans located rurally the alcohol is locally made from an assortment of ingredients, including sugarcane, banana juice, maize flour, cassava flour, and pineapple juice.  These tend to be easy to attain yet the production of these local brews are not regulated and a high volume is achieved. 

Alcohol here can be found in bottles, sachets, or hollowed out gourds.  It ranges from 500 UGX ($0.20 USD) to 3,000 ($1.20 USD).  It contributes to increased traffic accidents and harassment cases.  It affects men, women, and children.  It can be seen any time of day.  Or night.  It could be the passenger in your taxi, who proceeds to offer you a swig. 

Honestly, this can all be avoided with proper education and prioritization. 

I think I may have identified a possible secondary project.