Uganda Breweries has launched a campaign dubbed “Eyo Red Card,” which aims to promote responsible drinking among alcohol consumers.
The campaign is a call to action for consumers to make informed and responsible choices when drinking alcohol, ensuring that a great night out doesn’t turn into a life- altering event.
While speaking at the launch, the Corporate Relations Director of Uganda Breweries Sheila Sabune emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety for everyone through the new responsible drinking campaign called ‘Eyo Red’.
“At Uganda Breweries, we believe that drinking responsibly is key to having a great time. Through the ‘Eyo Red Card’ campaign, we are reinforcing the importance of responsible alcohol consumption and making safety a priority for all. We want to see more Ugandans making smart choices – pacing themselves while drinking alcohol, setting limits, and most importantly, never drinking and driving,” Sabune said.
Uganda has one of the highest alcohol consumption rates globally. According to the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health (2018), Ugandans consume an average of 12.21 liters of pure alcohol per person
annually—nearly double the African regional average of 6.3 liters and significantly higher than the global average of 6.18 liters.
As of November 2024, the Ministry of Health Uganda reported that 62.7% of Ugandans consume alcohol, with many individuals drinking more than three times a week.
The Secretary General of the Uganda Red Cross Society, Robert Kwesiga, praised UBL for consistently bringing forth great initiatives, such as the Eyo Red Card Campaign, which encourages responsible drinking and promotes safer choices.
“ This campaign is not just timely but essential, especially as we head into the Easter period. This aligns perfectly with the initiatives of the Uganda Redcross in supporting road safety campaigns,” Kwesiga stated.
“At Red Cross, we are typically seen when things have already gone wrong. And to me, that is why campaigns like these that are targeted at ensuring that consumers are aware of the dangers of alcohol misuse are crucial in ensuring that we are not needed at potential accident scenes after the fact. Road safety is not just a government responsibility; it is a collective effort that requires the participation of the private sector, civil society, and individual citizens. Initiatives like the Eyo Red Card Campaign serve as a reminder that alcohol consumption should never compromise road safety or endanger lives”.
Brenda Kobutungi, UBL Corporate Relations Manager Positive Drinking and Internal Communications, revealed that the Red Card Campaign aims to educate, inspire behavior change, and reinforce UBL’s commitment to responsible drinking, introducing such initiatives to be the go-to source for responsible drinking tips.
“Our goal is to ensure that everyone enjoys their drinks responsibly while making it home safely. With ‘Eyo Red Card,’ we want to shift mindsets and create a culture where responsible drinking is paramount.”
