Seshego residents welcome the dti’s Liquor Policy proposals
Members of the community of Seshego in Limpopo have welcomed the liquor policy proposals presented by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti). The residents aired their sentiments during the consultation session on the Draft National Liquor Policy held by the dti in Seshego on 13 August 2015.
The aim of the consultation session was to get public comments on the Draft National Liquor Policy document, as published for public comments by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies on 20 May 2015.
A concerned mother and Seshego resident Ms Maria Modila said enforcement of the law in regard to trading and consuming liquor needed to be intensified. She added that it was time to seriously implement these policies and penalise people who do not adhere to them. Modila emphasised that doing this, would help to curb the crime and violence caused by liquor abuse in communities which remained a huge challenge.
Ms Constance Ramoroka who is also a concerned citizen, highlighted that the proposal of liquor premises to be located at least 500 meters away from schools, places of worship, recreation facilities, rehabilitation or treatment centres, residential areas and public institutions was welcome. She said that will help bring back dignity to these premises.
Ramoroka added that integrating uniformity in terms of trading hours in National, Provincial and Municipal legislation will undeniably allow law enforcement to take place in the different jurisdictions with regards to alcohol consumption. Ramoroka said the liquor premises should actually be located 1 km metre away from these premises.
According to the Director of Policy and Legislation at the dti, Ms Clementine Makaepea research done by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) in 2008 indicates that South Africa remains number two in terms consuming pure alcohol amongst the Southern African Development Community (SADC). She said this was a sign enough for government and communities to pull all stops to address this challenge and she said this was the basis of the proposed interventions in the liquor policy.
“The liquor policy can address the socio-economic costs and harms associated with liquor abuse and the slow pace of transformation in the liquor industry. It can also deal with issues of standardisation of key aspects of regulation and improved regulatory collaboration, illegal liquor manufacturing and trading and capacity and enforcement constraints within the National Liquor Authority,” said Makaepea.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe-Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
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