Maputo, Sept. 5, 2025 (Lusa) - The Mozambican government has banned the use of ethanol in the production of alcoholic beverages and has set agricultural ethyl alcohol as the standard for the manufacture and standardisation of these products, the government spokesperson announced on Friday.
"The decree approved by the government discourages practices harmful to society associated with the production, marketing and consumption of alcoholic beverages, reinforcing measures to safeguard public health and safety," explained Inocêncio Impissa at a press conference in Maputo.
On Tuesday, the Mozambican government approved regulations on the production, marketing and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the country, to reduce the "harmful effects" of alcohol and "safeguard consumer rights".
The new decree approving the regulation determines "the exclusive use of ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin as a raw material for the manufacture and standardisation of alcoholic beverages" and goes ahead with "the ban on the use of pure ethanol in the beverage production process," as announced today by the Mozambican minister.
In this new legal instrument, the official pointed out, the government will now prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages in supermarkets, distributors and ‘bottle stores’ on Sundays, from 8 p.m. (7 p.m. in Lisbon) until 9 a.m. (8 a.m.) on Monday, "except in restaurants, pubs, nightclubs and bars."
The document also prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages in plastic bags and requires the mandatory use of pure ethyl alcohol in the domestic market if the purpose is human consumption.
Impissa also mentioned that this legal instrument determines the "prohibition of foreign commercial representation in the event of violations that threaten hygiene, health, public health, safety and the environment, as well as unfair competition".
This new instrument requires the establishment of mandatory prior authorisation for the sale and import of certain types of beverages and raw materials.
The Government believes that the implementation of these measures will reduce the negative social impacts of alcohol consumption, such as "school absenteeism, crime, road accidents and accidents at work".
Previously, the Mozambique Government temporarily suspended the issuance of licences for the production and marketing of alcoholic beverages, with the Mozambique ministry of the economy explaining that the measure aims to curb the proliferation of establishments producing and selling alcohol, especially "in the vicinity of educational institutions" and to reduce the "harmful effects of alcohol consumption", especially among young people, following complaints from various sectors of Mozambican society.
On 22 August, the Mozambican authorities seized a total of 5,655 units of high-alcohol beverages, considered harmful to society, and detected 136 traders selling these products in inappropriate locations, the government announced at the time.
The seizures - valued at 353,000 meticais (€4,722), which will be destroyed, were made by a multisectoral team created by the government as part of the temporary suspension of the issuance of licences for the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in the country, with the aim of curbing "early consumption" by minors, the government said on 5 August.
"What must be done is to close down these factories that produce this harmful product. This does not mean eventually shutting down a beverage factory, but rather the production of a certain line of products that are consumed and have proven to be harmful to society, particularly young people," said Inocêncio Impissa on that date.
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