Youths give up homebrew gear

 Youths of Lama in Ialibu-Pangia district, Southern Highlands have surrendered their homebrew making equipment to police as part of their New Year resolution.

They were joined by community leaders in a march to the police station.

They promised police that they would stop producing homebrew and participate more in community and church activities.

Patrick Lapa, the newly-appointed magistrate for Lama village, said the village leaders, magistrates and councillors had urged the youths to surrender their equipment.

“It’s a new year. We cannot continue to live the same old life,” Lapa said.

“We need to change because Ialibu-Pangia MP and Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is doing something good and we need to move forward with the development,” he said.

He said the alcohol ban in the province a few years ago had created a market for homebrew. It had discouraged people from tending to their gardens and supporting agriculture activities in the district.

“We are very happy that no more home-made beer will be found in our community,” he said.

Malu Kuruma, one of the homebrew producers, said the money they earned from selling homebrew was useless.

“We sell a 250ml container for K15 and generate good income. But we did nothing useful with the money,” he said. 

“We cannot continue to destroy young people’s lives when we have no blessing.”