According to statistics there is an “incontrovertible correlation between increased levels of violence, interpersonal and gender-based violence, and the abuse of alcohol and other addictive substances in the Western Cape province”.
These remarks were shared by Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz when he introduced his department’s annual report for the period 2018/19 to the Standing Committee on Community Safety.
Fritz’s comments led to the issue of the Western Cape Liquor Authority (WCLA) becoming the focus of a discussion at the Standing Committee where it was said that the WCLA is the only public entity which reports to the department and that during the year under review an amount of R42.7million was transferred to the public entity.
Fritz said there was a need to make the Western Cape Liquor Authority a self-sustaining entity and this should be done while promoting a safe drinking culture, particularly among the youth of our province.
He said the overarching role of the WCLA is alcohol harm reduction by ensuring all liquor outlets are licensed and balance needs to be struck between the WCLA’s ability to generate income and promote a safe drinking culture.
For the 2018/19 financial year, the Alcohol Harms Reduction Game Changer, in partnership with the Western Cape Liquor Authority (WCLA), conducted more than 3 500 inspections at liquor outlets and participated in 76 joint enforcement operations. A total of 112 fines were issued for the period under review.
The new regulations passed under the Western Cape Liquor Act compel WCLA inspectors to issue notices of non-compliance to outlets. The fine has been increased to up to R100 000.
More : IOL