The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in conjunction with the Eastern Cape Liquor Board will launch the Sobriety Week 2013 at the Raymond Mhlaba Sports Centre in Motherwell, Port Elizabeth on Friday, 6 September 2013 from 10h00.
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe will launch the campaign. Members of the media are invited to attend the launch of the campaign whose theme is Combating Liquor Abuse is Everyone’s Business.
The Sobriety Week which will run from 6 to 13 September 2013 is an 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 liquor abuse.
According to Deputy Minister 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 proposed in the strategy 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 alcohol abuse such as violence, risky sexual activities, and the spread of HIV and AIDS.
It also encourages behavioural change by sharing with the attendees the services offered by the dti 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 alcohol and drug abuse,” says Thabethe.
Thabethe says the campaign will incorporate the International Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day which is being observed internationally on September 9 every year to highlight the irreversible damage that is caused to unborn babies when their mothers consume alcohol during pregnancy.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe, departmental spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
