The Ministry of Health (MOH) has proposed to have the minimum age of alcohol consumption raised from 18 to 21 years, arguing that, at 18 years, one’s brain is still developing, so they should not be charged with making such life-altering decisions like taking alcohol.
Dr. Hasfa Lukwata, the Assistant Commissioner of Health Services at MOH, made these remarks during a media training of journalists at Parliament on December 19, 2023, where she noted that the Tobacco Control Act already set precedent at 21 as the legal age.
According to Lukwata, the movers of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill made 18 the legal drinking age, which she argues is too young.
“We are saying this age isn’t ok; it should be raised to 21 years,” Lukwata said.
She added that there is already available science showing that if someone delays alcohol consumption until the age of 21, chances are such a person will never start taking or abusing the substance.
“An 18-year-old these days is a senior four child, and they can’t be left to make life-threatening decisions about their lives like taking alcohol, which is going to affect their future,” said Lukwata.
Lukwata went on to say that the legal age for sports betting is 25 years old, showing that doing certain activities too young changes the way the brain works.
She cautioned parents to pay attention to what their children are getting involved in and check if they are capable of doing so at an early age, urging that they are too young to be left with such life-changing decisions.
On November 14, Tororo Woman MP Sarah Opendi presented the Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, 2023, to Parliament. The bill seeks to regulate the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcoholic drinks and also prohibit the sale of alcoholic drinks to children, among other proposals.