End-Of-Year Festivities: Prices Of Drinks Remain Unchanged

Government has taken steps to ensure that prices of both alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks remain unchanged throughout end-of-year festive period. Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, Minister of Trade, held a consultation meeting with the national brewery industry on December 27 in Yaounde in that direction. During the meeting, it was agreed that while waiting for the publication by January 15, 2019, of the circular on budget execution, prices of drinks remain unchanged. The meeting was attended by representatives of Guinness Cameroon SA, Les Brasseries du Cameroun, and UCB among other brewery companies.

The Minister told Cameroon Tribune after the meeting that it had come to the notice of the ministry that some businessmen were already planning to cash in on the imminent increase in the prices of drinks, following a decision by lawmakers to increase taxes on drinks. He warned such speculators that “no consumer price increase will be tolerated within this period, particularly during the celebration of the New Year festivities and the days ahead”. He noted that until the circular from the Ministry of Finance is published by mid-January 2019, no increase in prices will be authorized. Minister Luc Magloire Atangana also noted that control teams of the ministry will be on ...