Thulisile Mapongwana
The Eastern Cape Liquor Board said despite having developed comprehensive intervention initiatives to curb underage drinking, it's now clear that the fight against the scourge will require a systematic multi-sectoral approach.
That's the view of ECLB CEO, Dr Nombuyiselo Makala, who briefed the media on Wednesday on their efforts to address this issue, including the so-called pens-down parties.
Dr Makala expressed her disappointment that the 21 young people who died at the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy last June and the three young people who died in a tavern stampede in Hofmeyr last December, had not deterred young people from indulging in alcohol and hosting parties marred by excessive alcohol.
In its bid to fight the scourge, Eastern Cape Liquor Board spokesperson Dr Mgwebi Msiya said the board has rolled out an ambassador programme in 73 schools, with 292 learners across the province.
This programme sees top-performing learners elected to help educate their peers about the dangers of underage drinking.
The Liquor Board has also issued a stern warning to liquor outlets that sell alcohol to underage persons and allow the hosting of pens-down parties in their establishments.
Dr Msiya said they would take very drastic measures, including closing down liquor outlets that indulged underage persons and violated the Liquor Act.
He also urged parents to be good role models, expressing disappointment that some parents acquire alcohol for their children.
Meanwhile, commenting on the issue on the sidelines of a SA Local Government meeting, Chief of Operations, Lance Joel, hammered on the fact that the scourge of underage drinking required a multi-sectoral approach.
“A municipality has a constitutional responsibility to create a safe and healthy environment, however underage drinking is a societal problem needing the intervention of churches, parents, schools, and traditional leaders,” he said.
