Coronavirus: Drinking bar sales surge as demand for alcohol rises

As fears of coronavirus outbreak in Ghana spread, many people are taking appropriate precautions by stocking up on hand sanitizer and applying it liberally throughout the day.

There have now been at least 11 confirmed cases of the disease known as Covid-19 in Ghana.

Government’s advice is to wash your hands regularly with soap and hot water, but there has been a surge in hand sanitizer sales, with people using it as a back-up when they are on the move.

A lot of retail shops have run short of sanitizers with increasing number of people putting in large orders. Some shops are also limiting customers to buying two bottles each as their shelves get emptied.

Enterprising sellers are charging outrageously inflated prices as the demand of sanitizers rise.

Reported shortage of hand sanitizers and its skyrocketing prices have compelled some people to use undillited ‘akpeteshie’ while others use it in home-made hand sanitizer formulations.

Akpeteshie is a locally-brewed alcoholic beverage. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, some Ghanaians believe it is also a smart way to slow and prevent the spread of viruses.

GhanWeb visited some drinking bars in Madina, a surburb of Ghana’s capital, Accra to find out how brisk business is for sellers of alcoholic beverages.

Vida is the owner of Ghana Bar in Madina. She told GhanaWeb that she has recorded a rise in sales as people tend to use alcohol as a sanitizer. According to her, the rush for alcohol has also brought about shortage of the product.

“People come in here to buy local gin to drink. This is because there is a popular believe that drinking local gin will shield you against the virus. Currently I am even in short supply.”

Another operator, Obaa Yaa who owns Bra Ha spot and three other vendors shared a similar experience.

It appears that though the coronavirus is on the spread, it is also an amazing period for alcohol sellers to make good sales as people tend to use alcohol as a disinfectant.

Below is a video that details the rise in alcohol sales amidst the coronavirus spread