A group calling itself Concerned Muslim Youth has accused Bel Beverages, producers of Bel Aqua bottled water and other beverages, of using the same product line to produce both alcohol and non-alcoholic products.
At a press conference addressed by Alhaji Shamuna Baako at the National Mosque on January 26, 2024, he said, among others, that the Concerned Muslim Youth is expressing its displeasure about the activities of Bel Beverages.
According to them, they have reliable information from their deep-sea source that the company allegedly uses the same production line for the production of Bel Aqua and other beverages to produce Bel Ice, which is an alcoholic drink.
Supporting their claim with Chapter 5 of the Quran, the Concerned Muslim Youth alleged that their religion does not allow them to take alcohol; therefore, using the same production line to produce both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks is an affront to their religious beliefs.
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They are therefore calling on Bel Beverages to do the right thing by segregating alcoholic products from non-alcoholic ones in the production chain.
The Concerned Muslim Youth further alleged that the same Bel Beverages is using children under the age of 18 to advertise Bel Ice which is an alcoholic drink on Instagram and tiktok.
They contend that, in addition to the violation of their religious beliefs, the alleged conduct of the company is a slap in the face of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and Article 28 of the 1992 Constitution.
The Muslim Youths are by their presser calling on the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and other regulatory bodies to, as a matter of urgency, investigate the allegations and bring the company to book if it is found culpable.
The Concerned Muslim Youths warned that if nothing is done to correct the issues raised in their allegations, they will be compelled to advise the entire Muslim community that Bel products are haram, harmful, and against the guiding principles of Islam.
Meanwhile, a citizen by name Samuel Bempong has petitioned the FDA and Ministry of Gender to investigate Bel Beverages for using minors to promote Bel Ice on social media.