The Food and Drugs Authority has fined Angel Group of Companies, producers of Adonko Bitters GHC25,000 among other sanctions for contravening its code on sale and advertisement of alcoholic beverages.
The decision was taken following preliminary investigations into circumstances that led to dozens of youth and minors passing out at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi after an Easter Monday concert organized by the company.
Scores of revellers on Easter Monday were seen sprawled on the pitch of the Baba Yara Stadium gasping for breath after the annual Adonko Aseda Bash in Kumasi.
Scores of drunken youth pass out at stadium after Adonko Bitters showplay
Scores of drunken youth pass out at stadium after Adonko Bitters show (Graphic Online)
The “all night” concert attracted several Oseikrom gurus as well as Dancehall King Shatta Wale and Bisa Kdei. Ofori Amponsah, Agya Koo and Afia Schwarzenegger were also present at the concert.
READ ALSO: Scores of drunken youth pass out at stadium after Adonko Bitters concert
Several of the revellers, who were in their teens were enticed to the show with a free gate but on condition that each of them bought a bottle of Adonko Bitters liquor at GH¢10.
Hundreds of them apparently could not control their heavy intake of the popular Adonko Bitters, and as such, several were seen lying on the pitch drunk after the concert.
The FDA said its investigations “confirmed that the criterion for gaining access to the concert was solely on condition that each individual purchased a 750ml bottle of the alcoholic beverage at a cost of GH¢10, a situation which resulted in the Alcoholic beverage being sold to minors as well.”
“It also resulted in excessive consumption, clearly putting the consumers at risk of flouting the caution of drinking responsibly,” the FDA said in a statement.
It said the action by the company “contravened Section 3.2.19 of the FDA Guidelines for the Advertisement of Food products which states that “No alcoholic beverage shall be advertised in relation to a public function where persons under the legal drinking age are likely to attend.”
“The Company also contravened Section 3.2.12 of the FDA Guidelines for the Advertisement of Food products which prohibits the use of well-known personalities in the marketing of alcoholic beverages by engaging Shatta Wale and Bisa Kdei in the promotion programme.
These acts exposed patrons to the said programme to unwarranted serious health risks bordering on public health,” it added.
It said the company has “also been directed to recall the Product, Adonko Bitters, from trade and to furnish the FDA with details of the recall plan and subsequently, the progress of the recall plan.
The company is to pay an administrative charge of GH¢25,000 for failing to comply with the above regulatory requirements.”
The FDA further warned that it will impose further sanctions if Angel Group of Companies fails to comply with the sanctions.
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