The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe will deliver a keynote address at the launch of the second Sobriety Week which will be hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), in conjunction with the North West Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism at Go-Ratshidi, outside Mahikeng, North West, on Friday, 7 September 2012. Deputy Minister Thabethe will be accompanied by MEC Motlalepula Rosho.
The Sobriety Week is a week-long annual national campaign aimed at creating awareness to the general South African public, particularly the youth, women and pregnant women about the adverse effects of alcohol. This year, the Sobriety Week is scheduled to coincide with the International Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day which is being observed internationally on September 9 every year as it will be observed from 7 to 14 September 2012.
The theme of the 2012 campaign is "Combating Alcohol Abuse is Everyone’s Business". But South Africa also supports the theme adopted by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) for 2012 which is “Global Action for healthy communities without drugs and alcohol”.
According to the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe, the national campaign owes its origin to a strategy that was developed by the National Liquor Regulators Forum (NLRF) in 2011 with measurable actions.
"One of the proposed actionable measures was a week-long campaign comprising heightened activities directed at liquor traders and communities on how to combat liquor abuse. The campaign is also aimed at raising awareness about the high risk behavioural activities related to liquor abuse such as violence, risky sexual activities, and the spread of HIV/AIDS. It also encourages behavioural change by offering alternatives in the form of government programmes that are geared towards creating an enabling environment for communities to participate in the main stream economy, as well as encouraging activism amongst concerned members of the public in the battle against liquor and drug abuse," says Thabethe.
MEC Motlalepula Rosho says the North West province is faced with a challenge of alcohol abuse, especially amongst young people and this leads to criminal behaviour and abusive tendencies.
"In an effort to address this problem and in spite of the limited resources available, the department is currently very active in conducting awareness programmes as well as to enforce compliance with liquor regulations. It will also be remembered that this Province has put a moratorium as a control measure on the issuing of special liquor license for taverns since last September which will be reviewed on an annually basis," she adds.
The launch of the campaign will be followed by a series of information-sharing workshops which will be conducted in five other provinces during the Sobriety Week.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
