Drug Fight Malawi has urged the government to fast track the implementation of the National Alcohol Policy in order to deal with the harmful use of alcohol in the country.

Executive Director for Drug Fight Malawi, Nelson Zakeyu said government and stake holders seem not to be aware of the role they have to play on the policy.

“We feel that government officials and stake holders are not aware of what have being assigned to them for them to act and implement the policy,” he told YFM online.

The National Alcohol Policy was launched on August 18 2017 by the Ministry of Health and Population.

The policy aims to regulate supply and demand of alcohol in the country.

Zakeyu said they will meet government officials and stake holders to talk on the issues surrounding the implementation of the policy.

“We hope that ministry and other stakes holder will implement the policy immediately because we still feel that there is danger where young people are still consuming a lot of alcohol in the country,” he added.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Status Report of 2014, hazardous and harmful use of alcohol globally is a contributing factor to death, disease and injury.

Harmful use of alcohol causes harm on one hand, to the drinker through health impacts, such as alcohol dependence, liver cirrhosis, cancers and injuries.