Rodgers Monama concerned on non-Compliance by licenced liquor restaurants

Limpopo MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) Rodgers Monama has applauded the efforts of the National Liquor Authority, LEDET Liquor Affairs, and the South African Police Service.

This is on the recent and ongoing campaign to convey messages on compliance, responsible drinking and harms associated with the abuse of liquor.

This campaign is aimed at combating liquor abuse, encouraging consumers to drink responsibly and reminding traders to trade responsibly as per their conditions of trade.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) South Africa was the 19th biggest drinking nation in the world, 10 years ago.

SOUTH AFRICA AMONGST TOP SIX OF LIQUOR CONSUMERS

But Today, South Africans are the sixth-highest consumers of liquor globally. South Africa is the third highest country in Africa in the consumption of liquor.

MEC RODGERS MONAMA NOT PROUD

The campaigns conduct compliance inspections at registered liquor distributors and ensure that;

-license holders / registrants comply with the conditions attached to their liquor registration certificates / licenses

-conduct compliance inspections at non-compliant licensed liquor traders and close down

and also arrest unlicensed liquor traders

-Enhance community activism towards reporting illegal trading and violation of mandatory

conditions.

Liquor operations held recently in Vhembe District saw 130 Liquor Outlets being raided with 52 admission of guilt fines. This is for contraventions of the liquor act such as non-compliance to closing times. Selling unregistered alcohol, non-provision of food to customers and failure to keep necessary documents on the premises.

According to MEC Monama, unauthorized liquor trading kills our local economy. It also impacts negatively on legally operating liquor trading facilities. The Department is highly concerned by the noticeable high consumption of liquor by our young people as the future belongs to the youth.

“We therefore plead with the youth to either abstain from consuming alcohol or engage in responsible drinking patterns. The future of our economy is also highly reliant on skilled, sober and equipped youth”.