"ANCB press conference on the thorny issue of supply."

"On Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the Djeuga Palace Hotel in Yaoundé, the press conference of the National Association of Beer Consumers (ANCB) was held. Fortuné Matiké, National President of Beer Consumers in Cameroon, presided over the conference, with Madame Laure Njike, another member of the ANCB, in attendance."

"The president of the ANCB cited two main reasons for the scarcity of beer in the current market. Firstly, he attributed it to the increase in Cameroon's population, which leads to high demand compared to supply, resulting in what he termed as 'forced consumption.' This refers to consumers who, unable to find their preferred beer, settle for whatever is available. Secondly, he mentioned the challenges faced by breweries during production due to frequent power cuts. He stated, 'In some neighborhoods of Yaoundé currently, there is no electricity. Breweries have invested at least 3 billion francs in adequate generators; however, they are working to find a solution to this beer shortage.'"

"For Madame Laure Njike, 15 to 20% of direct hospitalizations are caused by alcohol. While there are some advantages, such as offering slight protection against heart diseases and increasing the good cholesterol in the blood, the disadvantages of excessive alcohol consumption are numerous. These include damage to vital organs such as the liver and heart, convulsive drunkenness, epileptic seizures, loss of balance, confusion, strokes, head injuries, irregular heartbeat, etc."

"However, alcohol consumption should be moderate, with 1 to 2 grams per day for women and 1 to 3 grams per day for men, without exceeding 4 grams of alcohol per day. It's important to note that one gram of alcohol is equivalent to one standard glass of beer. For diabetics, this average is further reduced due to the risk of hypoglycemia, which can lead to death. To prevent these various complications and overcome chronic alcoholism, vitamins B1, B6, and BP are recommended. The next meeting with breweries and all relevant stakeholders will take place on June 15th at the Ministry of Commerce."

Marcelle Ebanda