Regulate cheap alcohol: Officer

**Central Police Zone One Support Unit caught a young man at Kuriva along Hiritano Highway who had in his possession a homemade gun and 150 small packs of marijuana. – Nationapic by KENNEDY BANI**

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
A SENIOR police officer has urged the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) to ensure the proper regulation of the manufacturing and selling of cheap high-percentage of alcohol drinks.
NCD/Central police commander Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Wagambie Jr said the alcohol-related fights and incidents during Christmas and New Year was why he was making the call to the NCDC.

**Members of the Dog Unit confiscating illegal items and alcohol in Port Moresby.**

In Port Moresby during the New Year police operations The National witnessed high number of alcohol-related calls police responded to.
“NCDC needs to take the lead in gaining support from the Government in properly regulating the manufacturing and selling of cheap high percentage alcohol,” he said.

**People burned tyres and broke bottles on the roads at Hohola and Tokarara in Port Moresby on Friday night when celebrating the New Year.**

“This alcohol can be easily accessed in bottle shops for less than K20 for a big bottle which can serve up to 10 people. The percentage is so high that some people cannot handle the alcohol intake.
“The metropolitan commander Gideon Ikumu will be tasked as a matter of priority to collect statistics on which particular alcohol has been causing so much problems in the community.

**A policeman checking a motorist at Badili, Port Moresby.**

“Something has to be done about these alcohol-related issues. We will be submitting a report once we get our data collection together.”
He called on manufacturers to be responsible.
“They make a good profit out from this but the community and police are at the receiving end, the manufacturer must take some social responsibility by reducing the alcohol percentage.”

**A member of the Dog Unit with a suspect outside the Waigani Police Station.**

NCD Met Sup Ikumu told The National that police operations went well as they responded quickly to incidents.
“There were not many major incidents reported as most of the people celebrated peacefully in their homes.
“The police officers managed to chase away the few drunkards who were causing a nuisance on the road but generally, the New Year celebrations in the city was peaceful and quiet unlike the past years,” he said.
He said some drunkards smashed bottles and burned tyres in the streets.
“Police managed to chase the youths away,” he said.
Met Supt Ikumu said the New Year operations ended at 3am on Saturday.
“This is an indication that the city residents celebrated the New Year’s Eve peacefully in a more harmonious manner without causing fights and killings.”