Bar and Restaurant traders in lugari being addressed by DO 1 in Lumakanda. [PHOTO|Joseph Amunya Otieno|West Fm]

Bar and restaurant traders in Lugari district have been asked to acquaint themselves with the Liquor Act to ensure that they it is not contravened as they engage in the business. 

Addressing the traders in Lumakanda after chairing the Liquor board meeting, the DO 1 Richard Ajwang warned that whoever will be found going against the Act will be arrested arraigned in a court of law. 

He said most of the traders had ignored operating within stipulated hours besides serving alcohol to underage and school going children, a felony he warned should be stopped. 

Ajwang at the same time warned police officers who used their powers to force operators to sell alcohol outside official hours on the pretext that they will provide security adding that if such behavior was not stopped both the security and the traders will face the law. 

“I don’t want you to get protection from police officers to bend the laid down regulations. I have information that some use police officers to operate at wrong hours just thinking you are safe just because those officers are your regular customers. I want to assure you that the law does not know that, once found both of you will be held accountable for breaking the law,” warned Ajwang. 

The administrator also observed that banned sachet packaged alcohol was still popular in the area pointing that a number of bars in the area had been discovered selling such allegedly imported from Uganda. 

He said whoever will be found contravening the Act will have his license withdrawn besides facing a litany of other legal measures.