Health Minister Dr Sabin Nsanzimana has explained why Rwanda moved first to tighten controls on substandard alcoholic beverages, including those locally known as “Ibyuma,” while tobacco remains legally available.
Dr Sabin addressed the issue during an online discussion on the government’s campaign against “Ibyuma” alcohol, responding to questions from comedians Buringuni and Burikantu about the different approaches to alcohol and tobacco.
They questioned why tobacco, despite carrying prominent health warnings, had not faced a similar immediate ban.
The minister said the government’s priorities are guided by health data, which he said show that alcohol consumption is currently a more pressing public health concern than tobacco use.
Alcohol use remains widespread
Dr Sabin said tobacco use in Rwanda has declined significantly, from 13% to 7%, following measures introduced to curb smoking.
“Research available to us shows that the proportion of Rwandans who smoke has declined from 13% to 7% as a result of measures that had already been put in place,” he said.
He contrasted the trend with alcohol consumption, saying it remains widespread among the population.
According to the minister, about one in two men and one in five women consume alcohol, with the risks becoming particularly concerning when people consume beverages with an alcohol content of 40% or higher.
“Alcohol is therefore the much bigger concern. Tobacco is also a problem, but it is used by relatively fewer people, and the figures show that its use is declining,” he said.
The government has consequently intensified its campaign against substandard alcoholic beverages, including the collection and destruction of products removed from the market.
Tobacco remains on government agenda
Despite the immediate focus on alcohol, Dr Sabin said tobacco has not been taken off the government’s public health agenda.
“Tobacco also has its time coming. Let us first deal with what was causing the most immediate deaths, but tobacco is also on our agenda, even though its use has been declining significantly,” he said.
His comments come as Rwanda continues a nationwide crackdown on substandard alcoholic beverages and the factories producing them.
The Ministry of Health recently reported that about 50 people had died and 100 had suffered blindness after consuming substandard alcoholic beverages, while more than 11,000 people were reported to be struggling with alcohol dependence.
The government has intensified inspections, seizures and destruction of non-compliant alcoholic beverages as part of efforts to reduce health risks associated with their consumption.
