The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Kwara State Governor on Culture and Tourism, Hon Eyiwumi Muka Ray, has warned hotel operators in the state to stop selling and distributing fake and expired drinks.

Ray, who handed down the warning during a meeting held with the leadership of the state’s association of hoteliers at the weekend, maintained that the warning was in reaction to the rising concerns about counterfeit drinks circulating in hotels, clubs and restaurants across the state.

He said, “Widespread presence of fake drinks poses an imminent danger to public health and safety. This has prompted intensified and coordinated efforts by the government to eliminate the substandard products from circulation.”

He, therefore, implored all hotel operators in the state to exercise due diligence in ensuring they did not buy or serve fake or expired drinks.

He added that strict measures would be taken to safeguard the wellbeing of Kwara residents, saying there would be effective collaboration with relevant agencies to ensure the elimination of fake drinks in circulation.

Ray harped on the need to install CCTVs in all hotel premises in order to enhance the safety of the lives of customers and the security of their valuables.

In his reaction, the President of the Association of Hoteliers in Kwara State, Alhaji Dauda Akande, assured the government of their full compliance with the new directives.

He urged the state government to provide them with incentives that would assist in mitigating the effects of the present economic situation in the country.