Latest news with #EnyobeniTavern
The Herald
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald
Nine years on and Liquor Amendment Bill stalled: Call for action by Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance
The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) has called out the near decade-long delay in passing the Liquor Amendment Bill of 2016, expressing its concern that inaction is enabling underage drinking and other alcohol-related harms. The bill proposes raising the legal drinking age to 21, restricting advertising and limiting liquor outlet proximity to schools and places of worship. SAAPA stressed underage drinking is not simply the result of peer pressure or poor parenting but is structurally enabled through weak enforcement of age restrictions, such as at Enyobeni Tavern where 21 children died. It said it is concerned about an over-saturation of liquor outlets in residential and impoverished areas, marketing of alcohol, including at youth-linked events, and a lack of legislation and enforcement. SAAPA-SA communications lead Julian Jacobs said raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 is a key proposal in the stalled bill which would provide 'a firmer legal barrier' during a period of heightened vulnerability. 'It would also send a strong normative signal that alcohol is not appropriate for adolescents undergoing cognitive and emotional development,' he said. 'The recently passed Bela Act, which prohibits alcohol on school premises, is a step in the right direction. Schools must be places of learning and safety, not venues for the normalisation and socialisation of alcohol,' said Jacobs. The alliance welcomed findings from recent study on tackling underage drinking. 'We fully agree that education and prevention strategies must be tailored. The study's insight that younger teens are open to learning, while older teens seek practical, real-world skills, is important. However, while educational campaigns are vital, they are insufficient on their own. We must address the systemic issues that allow youth access to alcohol and contribute to its normalisation,' said SAAPA secretary general Aadielah Maker-Diedericks. She accused the alcohol industry of pushing an 'education over regulation' narrative to avoid stricter laws. 'We are clear: education alone cannot address a regulatory failure. The initiatives must be backed by strong, enforceable laws.' SAAPA's demands include immediate passage of the Liquor Amendment Bill, effective implementation of the Bela Act to keep schools alcohol-free, a moratorium on new liquor licences and a national audit of outlets, full transparency from the alcohol industry on distribution data and stronger law enforcement against Liquor Act violations. Maker-Diedericks said: 'If we are serious about protecting youth, we must stop asking what's wrong with our children and start asking what's wrong with our laws, our institutions and our political courage.' TimesLIVE
TimesLIVE
03-07-2025
- TimesLIVE
Parliamentary committee sends condolences after deadly 'pens down' party attack in East London
The parliamentary select committee on education, sciences and the creative industries said it was shocked to learn of the deaths that occurred in an attack at a 'pens-down' party in East London. In a statement on the parliamentary website the committee expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. 'Two people were reported dead and seven others were injured on the weekend after what seems to be a deliberate attack on party revellers in Nompumelelo township, just outside East London. A group of local young men, suspected to be a gang, gatecrashed a 'pens-down' party and started attacking those at the tavern,' committee said. Last weekend, MEC for economic development, environmental affairs and tourism Nonkqubela Pieters hosted a provincial underage drinking summit. The summit, was aimed at addressing one of the province's most urgent youth challenges. Delegates deliberated on prevention strategies, tightening enforcement and promoting safer youth-focused alternatives. The summit took place at Abbotsford Christian Centre in East London and brought together stakeholders from various sectors to find practical solutions to the growing problem of underage drinking. It coincided with the three-year anniversary of the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy in Scenery Park where 21 teenagers lost their lives in the overcrowded tavern under mysterious circumstances. The summit was also preceded by the 21km underage drinking awareness run which was hosted by the Liquor Board in Beacon Bay on June 29. 'Society must not tire in condemning the pens-down culture. This is so reminiscent of the recent Enyobeni incident which is subject of an inquiry that resulted in the deaths of 21 learners in the same vicinity. We condemn these actions, whether learners were involved or not. Law enforcement must leave no stone unturned in this,' the parliamentary committee's chairperson Makhi Feni said. Feni called for parental guidance and serious reflection on situations in which pupils have free access to alcohol. 'It is sad that fatal alcohol-related incidents that often involve learners are becoming a common but worrying occurrence in the country. Social gatherings where learners are allowed to use alcohol should be criminalised. The violence that characterises our society is condemned,.'he t said. Feni said the Eastern Cape department of education must assist and determine if any pupils had been affected by the incident and provide the necessary support.
