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THE HIGH cost of sugar and importation of ethyl alcohol has led to the collapse of the popular local gin, akpeteshie as over 400 akpeteshie distillers have closed down production at Suhum-Jato, a community well known in Ghana for mass production of the gin. A visit to the community by the Daily Heritage revealed that a number of the traditional distillers have closed down their production shops while others are into full time farming. The rest have deserted their homes to seek greener pastures in urban towns. The eastern regional treasurer of the co-operative distillers union who doubles as the local chairman of the distillers� society, Rubbin Narh told the Daily Heritage that, the price of sugar and yeast used for the brewery keeps increasing and is making the business unprofitable. According to him, for three months now, the price of sugar has witnessed sharp increase from GH�80.00 to GH�125.00 per bag while yeast has been increased from GH�4.00 to GH�6 per cup. This, according to him, coupled with the importation of ethyl alcohol is impacting negatively on their business. The regional treasurer is, therefore, on behalf of the Akpeteshi distillers, appealing to government to cut down taxes on sugar importation and provide credit facility for them to revamp their businesses. He said due to the collapse of the akpeteshie production business in the area, over 400 youth have lost their job which has brought hardship onto their families. The assistant local treasurer of the distillers society, Addo Kwaku explained to the paper that many distillers now are unable to cater for their families, adding that some have started selling their property to enable them get money for survival.