Legal regulation of alcohol sale in retail sectors of hospitality industry in Accra.

Abstract

This research examines the legal regulations governing the sale of alcohol in retail sectors of the Hospitality Industry in Accra, Ghana. The objectives of the study were to find out whether there are laws governing the sale of alcohol in the retail sectors and to establish what these laws are. Determine which governmental body is responsible for the enforcement of the alcohol regulations and how well they execute their duties. Examine the knowledge level of operators observing alcohol laws and ascertain the necessary requirements for operators to acquire license to operate. Descriptive survey design was used to quantitatively and qualitatively collect the data from drinking bar operators and law regulators/law enforcement body respectively. The sample procedure employed was the cluster sample method. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse and process the data from the questionnaires and thematic analyses was used to qualitatively analyse the interview to augment the data from the questionnaire. Findings reveal that there are laws/regulations governing the sale of alcohol, regulated by the statutory boards, yet there is a big gap between the laws governing the sale of alcohol and what is being practiced /observed on the Ghanaian market. Majority of the alcohol sellers/operators did not know these laws and those who knew also find it very difficult to observe them. In conclusion, the knowledge and adherence of these laws is vital and beneficial to all, therefore the need to educate the citizenry. This study also offer suggestions to the regulators, that they should endeavour to reinstate these laws and help operators to obey them by educating, monitoring and administering punishment to those who do not abide by them.