Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) Minister Rob Davies, in partnership with the Free State Department of Economic, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC, Mxolisi Dukwana, will launch the annual National Liquor Regulators’ Forum (NLRF) Awareness Campaign, at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium, Rocklands Indoor Sport Centre, Bloemfontein, on Monday, 14 September 2009 starting from 09h00). This year’s NLRF campaign will be held under the theme “Empowering the communities on their rights and duties with regards to liquor regulation”.
According to Zodwa Ntuli, Deputy Director-General of the dti’s Consumer and Corporate Regulation Division (CCRD), the 2009 campaign entails a series of awareness and education-related activities, which will be rolled-out by the provinces from now, through to 2010, as the country prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2010. Community members will be and encouraged to deal with these issues in various community structures.
“We believe that empowering communities, including civil society structures that represent them, with regards to the prescripts of liquor legislation, will encourage them to play an active role in liquor regulation. It will also go a long way towards supporting the objective of both provincial and national liquor legislation to develop a responsible and sustainable liquor industry and reduce the socio-economic costs of alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is undoubtedly the cause of many problems in communities and we need a strong partnership with civil society to minimise this,” said Ntuli.
The campaign will take place under the auspices of the NLRF, a national structure comprising liquor regulators from the national and provincial spheres of government, as well as the South African Police Service (SAPS). Through this campaign, the NLRF seeks to raise awareness of the social ills that come with alcohol abuse and encourage civil society to play a leading role in curbing the effects of these soci0o-economic problems.
Civil society is well positioned to a meaningful role in various ways, such as commenting on applications for retail liquor licences, monitoring the manner in which liquor licensed outlets conduct their business, and reporting any activities deemed to be illegal, including the operation of unlicensed liquor outlets/businesses.
For more information contact:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 073 522 6801
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
8 September 2009
Source: Department of Trade and Industry (http://www.dti.gov.za/)
