Compliance of Laws Regarding the Sale and Usage of Alcoholic Beverage in the Hospitality Industry: The Case of Intoxicated and Minors

Abstract

Background: Alcohol consumption in Ghana continue to increase astronomically, the sad part of this is that, alcohol sellers continue to sell to intoxicated people and unfortunately minors. The indifference of some sellers toward the laid down regulations governing the sale of alcoholic beverages is what motivated the researchers to conduct study on this development with the purpose of determining the compliance of laws regarding the sale and usage of alcoholic beverages in the hospitality industry using the case of intoxicated and minors.

Methods: Data was extracted from 100 respondents (i.e. sellers) with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), with questionnaires being used as the main research instrument. Information gathered were coded, sampled, analysed and conclusions were drawn.

Results: it emerged that alcohol consumption is highest among age group 26-35 years. In addition, 80% of the respondents are aware that there are laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages, however, 85% of them do not comply to these laws and regulations. With respect to operation, 92% of the respondents have license to operate, 8% on the other hand were operating without license. Again, out of the 92% of the respondents who have license to operate, only 40% of them oftentimes renew their licenses.

Conclusions: most of the sellers do not comply to laws pertaining to the sale of alcoholic beverages hence the need for stringent measures to be adopted.

Keywords: Compliance of Laws, Alcoholic Beverage

DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/40-06