The management of Banjul Breweries Company Limited has welcomed the alcohol tax reduction from 75 to 35 percent.

Last December, The Gambia government increased excise tax on alcoholic beverages from 15 to 75 percent, which had an effect on Banjul Breweries, the country’s only beer brewery company. The company had to lay off 18 staff members to cope with the tax hike.

But after series of protests and demands by Banjul Breweries and other businesses in the leisure industry that the tax hike was bad for the economy, the government through the National Assembly on Monday reduced the excise tax from 75 to 35 percent.

Meanwhile, after a closedoor meeting of the management of the beverage company and the Parliamentary Committee on Trade on Thursday, the company’s management expressed its delight and relief that the government had heeded to their demands.

The 35 percent excise tax comes into effect on August 1.

Speaking to the Company’s Commercial Sales director, Bori Darboe, said: “the 75 (percent) had definately affected our operations and we welcomed the reduction, although it’s not the best outcome that we were expecting but is better to take what you’re given.”

Mr. Darboe said the hardship the company had gone through from January this year (when the tax hike came into effect) and that they were expecting to get their demands met which hasn’t happened.

He added: “we still continue to tell them that the 35 percent tax is still not helping us.

“We hope when it come to the next budget, they will see the need to reduce it (further).”

Mr. Darboe said they will as a management try to see how best to reinstate the 18 staff members who were laid off.

He commended the National Assembly Members for their intervention in resolving the tax hike.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba