Prices of drinks remain stable during yuletide

A survey conducted by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra shows that prices of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages remained stable during the Christmas festivities.

Mrs Josephine Osei of Akwamoka Enterprise in Nungua said the industry experienced price increments in the cause of the year due to inflation and higher utility tariffs, adding that within the Christmas, there had been no increment in the prices of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.


She said compared to December 2012 festivity period, this year’s prices were on the higher side this year. She said in December 2012, her outfit was selling a carton of coca cola at GH¢28.00 but the same is now being sold at GH¢33.00.A carton of Malta Guinness was GH¢30.00 but now selling at GH¢45.00.


She said a bottle of Heinekem was GH¢2.00 in 2012 but now GH¢3.00. Red label, Black label and Jack Daniel wines which were sold at GH¢35.00, GH¢60.00 and GH¢50.00 respectively last year, are now being sold for GH¢50.00, GH¢80.00 and GH¢80.00 respectively.


Mrs Osei said that patronage was very low and appealed to government to address the high inflation rate because it was affecting business. Madam Doris Okai of Laguna Enterprise told the GNA that within the Christmas festivities, prices of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic products in her store had not changed.


She however, said a bottle of Joy Dadi which used to sell at GH¢4.60 was now selling at GH¢5.00. Madam Magdalene Amankwah of Adom Stores in Nungua said patronage was low and that there was no need for price increments.


A dealer in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic products in Nungua who chose to remain anonymous also admitted that there were no price changes within the period. A trader at the Makola Market in Accra said she had to maintain the old prices of drinks to be able to attract more customers.

She said a crate of large beer bottles costs GH¢31.50 while that of the smaller bottles are sold for GH¢45.00. She said a pack of totapack drinks goes for GH¢25.00 whereas a pack of 33ml can malt costs GH¢48.00.


She said alcoholic champagnes was selling at GH¢8.00 and GH¢9.00 while non-alcoholic champagnes cost GH¢6.00 and GH¢7.00. Another trader at the Old Tema Station said she had increased the prices of some of her beverages a bit because of the festive occasions.


She said she sells a pack of Guinness at GH¢15.00, a pack of the bigger size of plastic Coca-Cola at the price of GH¢20.00, a pack of Magic Malt for GH¢10.00 and a bottle of Sangria wine also goes for GH¢15.00.


At Ashongman Estates Mr Alex Gyamfi of Lollipop Pub said a crate of Guinness used to sell at GH¢39.50 but is now going for GH¢44.00 while a bottle goes for GH¢3.00. He said Smirnoff Ice crate was also selling at GHC 28.00 but it now sells at GH¢35.00 with a bottles also being sold for GH¢3.00.


However, Mrs Valarie Otoo of VaMax Mart says prizes of soft drinks increased earlier about two months ago hence making Ceres which used to sell at GH¢5.50 now stands at GH¢6.00. She said Don Simon had increased from GH¢3.50 to GH¢4.00, whereas alcoholic Don Simon goes for GH¢4.50 from the initial prize of GH¢4.00.


She observed that a bottle of non-alcoholic wine was being sold at GH¢7.50 with no increment as at now. “Coca-Cola 1.5 liter has now increased from GH¢3.00 to GH¢3.50 while the 500ml stands at1.80pessewas when it used to sell at GH¢1.60 respectively,” she added.