Liquor Authority Rolls Out Alcohol Abuse Awareness Sessions | Western Cape Government

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Liquor Authority Rolls Out Alcohol Abuse Awareness Sessions

1 August 2013

The Liquor Authority is set to embark on a province-wide awareness campaign to promote responsible drinking.

Starting next week, the sessions will take place in major centres across the Western Cape to ensure that we reach a maximum number of residents.

These information sessions will focus on educating residents about the dangers of alcohol abuse in terms of the social and physical ills it promotes such as crime, injury and illness.

Thys Giliomee, CEO of the Authority, said the Liquor Authority was determined to play a proactive role in ending liquor abuse to ensure that our communities become safer and healthier.

Citing several studies which point to the harms of alcohol abuse, Alan Winde, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Finance, said irresponsible liquor consumption was tearing away at the social fabric of our communities, which are already in a vulnerable state: “South Africa has been ranked as the country with the third highest rate of alcohol abuse in the world and the Western Cape plays a big part in this. Despite the efforts of government to end liquor abuse, the problem is not going away.

"That is why we are rolling out a full scale campaign targeted at spreading our message to households across the province. It is my firm hope that informed members of our communities spread our message, and that they join hands with us to end this scourge.”

Mr Giliomee added that this tour is just one of the interventions that the Liquor Authority has put in place to proactively encourage vulnerable communities to stop abusing liquor: “We have further increased our presence on the ground by taking part in festivals across the province. Despite initial scepticism, we were well received by community members at the Calitzdorp Port and Wine Festival, where we issued breathalysers and information booklets on responsible drinking. Once they realised that our goal is to protect their interests and make their communities better, they welcomed us with open arms.

“We are determined to change our drinking culture so as to improve the lives of communities across our province,” concluded Minister Winde.

The awareness sessions start in Malmesbury on 6 August and end in Mossel Bay on 30 August, as follows:

Liquor-Authority-awareness-sessions

Community members are encouraged to attend.

For more information, call the Liquor Authority helpline on 0860 142 142.

Media Enquiries: 

Bronwynne Jooste
Spokesperson for the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism
Tel: 021 483 3550
Cell: 082 454 4365
Emailbronwynne.jooste@westerncape.gov.za