English
Kinyarwanda
Owners of bars and spots have been called upon to set up measures to bar minors from entering and consuming alcoholic drinks.
The call was made during a meeting held on August 28 at the Rwanda National Police headquarters in Kacyiru and attended by over 120 owners and managers of night clubs and bars in Kigali, mayors and District Police Commanders for Nyarugenge, Gasabo and Kicukiro.
It was chaired by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Dan Munyuza and attended by the Mayor of the City of Kigali Fidele Ndayisaba.
The meeting aimed at taking measures to prevent under-aged from taking alcoholic beverages and accessing night clubs.
DIGP Munyuza advised owners of these leisure joints not to focus on making profits alone but also do it in line with the law by accepting only people who are eighteen years and above.
Article 219 of the penal code stipulates that any person who offers or sells alcoholic beverages or tobacco to a child or involves him/her in the sale of such products shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of at least three months but less than six months and a fine of Rw300, 000 to Rwf1 million or one of these penalties.
These penalties shall also apply to any person who encourages a child to drink alcoholic beverages or to smoke or to go to bars
DIGP Munyuza also cautioned them against noise in residential areas and urged them to have Police contacts displayed in their bars and clubs and report any incident in time.
Mayor Ndayisaba said “it’s legal to set up bars and night clubs in residential areas as long as they don't affect security or well-being of communities in the neighbourhood.”
Participants promised to follow and set up internal rules and regulations and work with security organs to fight against illegal act and quick response in case of any incidences.
