News Room

UAIA UNVEILS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES RESPONSIBLE CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT

For Immediate Release

Kampala. February 1st, 2023 – Formal alcoholic beverages players under their umbrella Organisation Uganda Alcohol Industry Association (UAIA) have today launched the alcoholic beverages Responsible Code of business conduct 2023 at an event held at Kampala Serena Hotel. 

The Code is intended to ease engagement and have collective engagements with government agencies on issues of mutual interests, honesty, and truth in the way formal players in the alcoholic beverages sector produce and market their different products. 

“With this code in place, we can address social issues such as drinking & driving, underage drinking, and heavy episodic drinking all aimed at promoting responsible use of alcoholic beverages,” said Mr. Onapito, the UAIA Chairman.

According to him, the code does not serve to summarize or substitute national laws, and policies,  which must always be upheld but rather explain UAIA’s approach to self-regulation.

“The Code will create safeguards for our consumers by regulating distributorship, marketing, purchase, supply, sale, and consumption of alcoholic beverages in a bid to protect the alcohol industry’s reputation and freedom of expression in consumer-facing, brand activities across all our alcohol brands,” 

The Code covers all sorts of marketing, supply, and distribution channels, the most common being: packaging, point of sale, signage, trade promotions, sponsorships, advertising, digital and social media, as well as any new channels and technologies that might be created, use, and co-opted from time to time.

The UAIA Responsible Marketing code will be governed by principles such as adult appeal, good taste and decency, and health messages among others.  “The subscribers’ to the marketing must only portray drinking in safe and appropriate circumstances. Never portray drinking before or whilst driving motor vehicles, operating machinery, or any other similar activity or situation,” said Kaggwa. 

In compliance with UNBS and URA standards, it is imperative that members do not deal in illicit. Members shall not purchase or supply illicit alcoholic beverages. 

According to Euromonitor Illicit Alcohol Trade Report 2021, from 2017- 2020, the value market size of illicit alcoholic drinks increased at  18.3% Compound Growth Rate (CAGR) from USD577.8 million in 2017 to USD956.8 million in 2020.