By Kuda Pembere
With a majority of Zimbabweans defending Kambucha as a non-alcoholic beverage, it has emerged that it is a liquor, an alcoholic substance.
The beverage is touted as “a health drink made from natural ingredients such as lemon, garlic, black pepper and ginger”.
Manufactured by Fresh Kambucha Zimbabwe, the product was Tuesday granted a wholesale liquor license by the Liquor Licensing Board.
This means it is actually an alcohol quashing notions from its consumers that it wasn’t.
Fresh Kambucha Zimbabwe is owned by one Mr Willard Chinguwa with the manufacturing site being situated in Graniteside, Harare.
The company got a liquor license granted for their product dubbed Kambucha Lite.
“We are happy to announce that we have received our liquor license. Our new product with alcohol,Kambucha Lite is now coming into the market. To our valued customers let’s drink responsibly and enjoy this festive season ????,” the company notified its customers on Facebook.
Kambucha packaged in three varieties — the Kambucha Lemon Drink, the Fresh Kambucha (labelled Number 3) Drink and the Manyuchi Power Drink has for while been suspected to be laced with alcohol, most people claiming the Number 3, the main culprit.
Ingredients listed on the 450ml Fresh Kambucha Drink aka Number 3 are honey, tea leaves, sugar, ginger concentrate, black pepper and water.
It does not indicate that it contains alcohol.
According to local regulations, packaging of alcoholic beverages should be clearly distinct from soft drinks, water and other non-alcoholic beverages.
The packaging is also expected to be clearly labelled and carry a warning notice and health advisory statements.
Laws that apply to all alcoholic beverages sold or manufactured for sale in Zimbabwe include the Liquor Act (Chapter 14:12), the Traditional Beer Act (Chapter 14:24), the Road Traffic Act (BAC), the Shop Licences Act, the Finance Act (Zimra Licences and Approval), the Child Protection Act and the Food and Food Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations 2001 (Statutory Instrument 25 of 2001).
A former mayor of Masvingo banned employees from the consumption of Kambucha after their doctor stated that it was an alcohol.