The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will be hosting a Liquor Regulation Conference at the Gallagher Estate Conference Centre in Midrand on 8 March 2012.
Delegates representing the liquor industry, associations, liquor manufacturers and distributors, provincial liquor boards, civil society organisations, non-government organisations, community-based organisations and traditional leaders are expected to attend the conference themed "Towards a Balanced and Effective Liquor Regulation Framework".
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe, who drives the dti agenda for effective liquor regulation, will deliver a keynote address at the event. She says this conference is a way to kickstart a robust approach towards a responsible way of trading and using liqour.
She added that delegates should come and air their views on what acceptable standards should be on liquor trading. She affirmed that this will also be an opportunity to share views on liquor legislation and identify areas of concern.
"One of the resolutions taken at the Biennial Anti-Substance Abuse Summit that took place in Durban in March last year was to harmonise the liquor legislation in South Africa with similar norms and standards in all provinces. the dti has the mandate to regulate and to set standards in the liquor industry and as such it was tasked to develop a comprehensive liquor policy by March 2013," said Thabethe.
Issues that will be discussed at the conference are the minimum drinking age, the location and density of liquor outlets, trading hours and how government, industry and civil society can work together to combat the abuse of liquor.
Sidwell Medupe (Departmental Spokesperson)
Tel: (012) 394 1650
Mobile: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
