Business, Entertainment, Health, News May 13, 2025
The Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA) has announced that it is in the process of drafting a new law aimed at partially banning the advertisement of alcoholic beverages on social media platforms. This proposed regulation comes as an extension of Ethiopia’s earlier efforts to restrict alcohol advertising.
The country previously banned alcohol promotions on traditional broadcast media such as television and radio approximately five years ago. However, alcohol producers have since shifted their marketing efforts to digital platforms, particularly social media, to reach wider audiences, including young and vulnerable segments of the population.
According to Fresalam Yosef, Executive Director of Legal Services at the EFDA, companies are now using advanced digital marketing techniques and technologies to promote alcoholic products online. In response, the Authority has developed a legal framework to curb this trend and regulate the growing influence of alcohol-related content on social media.
The draft legislation has been submitted to the Ministry of Health for review and further action, marking a significant step toward tighter control of alcohol marketing in the country.
Despite its growing alcohol industry, Ethiopia remains one of the countries with the lowest per capita alcohol consumption globally. According to data from Trading Economics, the average Ethiopian consumes only about 3 liters of alcohol per year.
The Ethiopian beer market consists of 12 types of beer produced by six major companies. Among them, St. George Beer stands out as the oldest and one of the most recognized brands in the country.
If enacted, the new law would represent a continued commitment by the Ethiopian government to safeguard public health by minimizing exposure to alcohol advertising, especially among youth and other at-risk groups.