After beer, price of palm wine increases in Bamenda

After prices of beer and other manufactured alcoholic products increased by a hundred francs in Bamenda earlier this month, palm wine dealers in Bamenda have also stepped up prices of their locally produced drink.

The Palm wine dealers agreed in a meeting at Azire, Bamenda last Monday February 15 that if beer prices increased because of the unprecedented increase of taxes, the price of palm wine equally has to increase.

Bamenda palm wine dealers’ spokesperson, Julius Ncham, said palm wine tax in Bamenda varies according to the location of the palm wine joints in the town. “For your information, palm wine bars in popular areas in Bamenda like World Trade Centre and Pentagon at Hospital Round-About, Old Church Junction Azire, Azire New Church, Savana Street, Devil Street, Small Mankon, Old Town and Ghana Street, pay higher taxes than elsewhere,” he said.

Ncharm disclosed that it was for that reason that palm wine dealers of the popular areas in Bamenda will as from Monday, February 23, increase palm wine prices. Beginning from February 23, one litre of palm wine would be sold.

Beside the high tax on palm wine in some localities in Bamenda, Charm added that house rents in popular palm wine joints is too high with some rooms hired at between 15,000 and 20,000FCFA per month and palm wine dealers are forced to pay for 12 months up front.

He said those who sell in these popular bars work from 9 a.m. till dawn because of the steady flow of customers; “consequently, they are paid very high monthly wage between 15,000 and 20,000 FCFA per month which calls for an increase in the price of palm wine.”

This reporter was tipped-off that there are a total of 121 palm wine joints between Old Town and Azire Old and New Church.

Ncham said Bamenda palm wine dealers had threatened to empty out to the streets to protest the discrimination of taxes charged on palm wine bars but later let go their decision for fear of the anti-terrorism law.