KZN liquor awareness crackdown yields success
Multi-agency raids on liquor outlets in the Durban area this week resulted in several being closed down, and many compliance notices and fines issued, the trade and industry department (dti) said on Sunday.
The anti-substance abuse awareness campaign and an inspection blitz by officials from the dti, social development department (DSD), SA Police Service (SAPS), and KwaZulu-Natal Liquor Board (KZNLB) saw five liquor outlets closed down, 17 compliance notices issued, and fines to the value of R4000 being handed to non-compliant holders, the dti said in a statement.
More than 45 outlets, including taverns, restaurants, distributors, and manufacturers were raided in the Durban CBD, Albert Park, Inanda, and KwaMashu from Monday to Friday.
The raids were conducted in terms of section 26 of the National Liquor Act, which authorised the dti’s National Liquor Authority (NLA) to conduct inspections.
NHL chief director Prea Ramdhuny said the purpose of the campaign and inspection blitz was to instil awareness among traders on responsible trading and enforce compliance with conditions of registration.
“This festive season we had to broaden the inspections in order to include education, and create awareness around all substance abuse for the campaign to have more impact and yield results.
“Social workers provided support to the raids to ensure that those affected by substance abuse received the necessary interventions. Most outlets that were given compliance notices and fines failed to adhere to the stipulated conditions of their licences,” Ramdhuny said.
Durban was targeted because it was one of the provinces with the highest rate of alcohol and drug abuse in the country. The campaign also supported the DSD’s endeavours to reclaim Albert Park in central Durban.
Albert Park was previously known as “Whoonga (nyaope) Park”. Through the initiatives of DSD, the park had once again been restored as a recreational facility.
“The message we wanted to put across was for licence holders to act more responsibly and to familiarise themselves with the National Liquor Act, its regulations, and norms and standards so that they can act responsibly and make informed decisions when manufacturing and distributing alcohol to patrons,” she said.
Colonel Prego Patcher, of SAPS liquor control, said most outlets visited failed to produce licences on the trading premises and adhere to trading hours.
Patcher said this had led to patrons being sold liquor even when they were beyond the drinking limit and risked been taken advantaged of or being vulnerable. In some instances, this had led to prostitution and drug dealing among young people, he said.
KZNLB regional manager for compliance Vusi Mzombe said the board always found it challenging to enforce compliance among traders, especially during the festive season.
Licenced and unlicensed premises needed to be educated and informed about the issues of liquor trading to ensure compliance and strict regulation, he said.
Illegal products found on shelves and confiscated, included counterfeit spirits and tequila.