Man chooses beer over marriage in court

A Zambian man has declared in court that, if he was made to choose, he would rather give up his marriage than stop drinking beer.

The decision, which took place at Livingstone Local Court in Zambia, occurred when 49-year-old Allan Kawewa faced legal proceedings because of his drinking habits and presented with two options: Beer or a divorce.

According to the Zambia Daily Mail, Kawewa left the courtroom and his wife in awe after he chose beer instead of his marriage without hesitation.

Kawewa said he still loved his 47-year-old wife and that he did not want a divorce but was, however, not ready to change his drinking habits and would rather lose his marriage than quit. He admitted that, naturally, he would be lost without his wife and was not looking forward to a divorce, but still needed to make his priorities known, despite the ultimatum.

“Please, forgive me,” he said and begged: “Let things go back to where they were when we met. I still love you.”

Following the decision, locals took to social media to register their opinions. One commentator, Mubiwa Mumbowe Simakumba, said: “That’s inhuman. How do you tell someone to choose between beer and other things? Beer is beer and should not be put in comparison with anything.”

Explaining the conundrum, social media user Emmalex Meki Ubuteko revealed: “We are in a generation where your joy brings problems to some people and problems bring joy to some people.”

On the local paper’s social platform, Aaron Chilambwe insisted that Kawewa was a “gentleman” and referenced “the joy and togetherness” that “beer brings amongst us” and described how he had clearly undertaken a “cost-benefit analysis” and added: “Allan is a legend when it comes to choosing what is more profitable.”