Accra Brewery Limited, a major player in Ghana’s beverage industry, has extended its responsible retailing training programme to engage retailers in the Ga West municipality on the need to sell their products responsibly.
The Responsible Retailing Programme which is aimed at empowering retailers to ensure responsible sale, consumption and advertising of the various alcoholic-brands of the company, has trained over 400 retailers since its inception in February 2013.

The drive is consistent with the company’s commitment to helping create a sociable world where ABL’s alcoholic beverages are developed, marketed, sold and consumed with high regard for individual and community’s wellbeing.

Under the Responsible Retailing Programme retailers are  taken through topics such as ‘Alcohol and the Law’, ‘Alcohol and Pregnant Women’, ‘Alcohol and Underage Persons’, ‘Alcohol Abuse and Dependence’, as well as ‘Responsible Marketing and Promotions’ by a team of resource persons from the Health and Work Environment Agency (HAWEA).

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Ellen Mensah, Programme Officer of HAWEA, applauded ABL for its consistent efforts at training retailers on responsible consumption, expressing optimism that knowledge gained from the programme will go a long way in the fight against alcohol abuse, especially among the youth.

‘‘The adverse effects of underage drinking and binge drinking cannot be underestimated.  While the government and other relevant state institutions continue in their fight against alcohol abuse, ABL’s consistent efforts in this regard is highly commended,” she said.

Ms. Ewurafua Addo-Atuah, Legal and Regulatory Affairs Manager of ABL, expressed delight at the turn out and level of interest of the retailers.

‘‘I am particularly impressed with the level of enthusiasm that you have attached to this programme.  I am left with no doubt that your interest speaks volumes of your readiness to help us make beer the natural choice for the moderate and responsible drinker,’’ she added.

She indicated that as a subsidiary of SABMiller, ABL will continue to fulfil its  commitment to uphold the provisions and objectives contained in the Global Alcohol Producers’ Commitments as signed in October 2012 to reduce, among others, harmful drinking.

The retailers expressed profound appreciation to ABL for their continuing efforts at adding value to its retailers, pledging to uphold the tenets of responsible alcohol retailing.

The broad thematic areas of ABL’s Alcohol Policy touch on employees and stakeholder conducts in relation to alcohol behaviour and communication; and alcohol intelligence quotient.

ABL believes that its responsible retailing programme and its continuous sensitisation drive against drinking while pregnant, will encourage responsible consumption of alcohol.