Peace and Love Proclaimers (PLP), a youth-led organisation advocating for positive change, hosted the second edition of Sober Night on December 22 at Mundi Centre.
Sponsored by Maltona, a non-alcoholic malt beverage from SKOL Brewery Ltd, the event brought together over 1,000 young people.
Designed to show that fun doesn’t have to involve alcohol; the night featured live performances, interactive games like pool and mini golf, and a sip-and-paint session.
Maltona’s support reinforced the message that young people can enjoy themselves sober, providing an exciting alternative to alcohol-centered events.
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According to Romeo Jean De Dieu Ishimwe, Assistant Event Manager at SKOL Brewery Ltd, the Sober Night event was a significant initiative that aligns with the government's campaign to promote responsible drinking.
He explained that Maltona, their non-alcoholic beverage (0.0 alcohol), offers an alternative to traditional drinks like Coca-Cola or Fanta, especially for younger audiences, including those under 18.
"Maltona is made from 100% malt, and it's a refreshing drink that can be enjoyed at any time of the day, preferably chilled, we’re proud to be part of this event, and it’s great to see people enjoying themselves without the need for alcohol," he said.
Parfine Mizero, the General Secretary of Peace and Love Proclaimers (PLP), explained that the second edition of Sober Night was bigger than last year's, with a much larger turnout, adding that the event’s main goal was to challenge the mindset that fun for young people is always tied to alcohol.
"Our main aim is to change the narrative where young people, mostly people our age, think that having fun is mostly about drinking but we want everyone, especially the young people, to know that doing drugs and drinking alcohol is not what makes a good night fun," she said.
Mizero also encouraged young people to understand that sobriety does not take away the fun or the good experience, highlighting that Sober Night had a good turnout.
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One of the young people who attended Sober Night pointed out that, unlike typical events, alcohol wasn’t the focus, which allowed for different fun and an opportunity to try many activities.
"The good thing is that alcohol is not the main centre of the joy and laughter that’s going around, and we’ve been having a lot of activities, like fun games, somersaults, performances, and music in the background. I played pool, car games, and mini golf, which was fun and interactive," he said.
Orante Tuyizere, who also attended the event, emphasised that alcohol isn&039;t necessary for young people to have fun, adding that the games and activities provided a great experience.
"This is a sign that alcohol is not the main thing that can let the youth have the most fun. At first, I also thought it would be boring, but now that I’m here, I see it’s fun,” she said.