THE NATIONAL LIQUOR AUTHORITY WARNS ON ILLEGAL TRADING AND LIQUOR ABUSE

THE NATIONAL LIQUOR AUTHORITY WARNS ON ILLEGAL TRADING AND LIQUOR ABUSE

The National Liquor Authority notes with concern the crime statistics released on the 28 September 2015 by the Minister of Police and calls on all liquor traders to trade responsibly, and for consumers to reduce the level of alcohol consumption, to help in curbing this scourge. 

The National Liquor Authority is an entity within the dti responsible for regulating macro manufacturers and distributors of liquor. Distributors are allowed to sell liquor only to licensed outlets such as bottle stores, pubs and taverns, and not to the public. The licensing of retailers, i.e. those outlets that sell directly to the public is done by provincial departments through their liquor boards. The National Liquor Authority is actively conducting inspections to identify and curb illegal traders.

According to the Minister of Police the causal link between drug/alcohol abuse and crime must be addressed through a multi-disciplinary approach by state agencies, in order to reduce violence. The Minister of Police also pointed out that the causal link between drug and alcohol abuse continued to drive up violent crimes. Regulators must work together to enhance the impact of their interventions in this regard.  

SAPS confiscated 1.7bn litres of illegal alcohol during the 2014/15 financial year and closing down just over 37 900 unlicensed liquor outlets. These statistics support the concerns that the dti raised about illegal liquor trading and the scourge of alcohol abuse.  

the dti proposed that producers and manufacturers should also be held liable for liquor products found in illegal outlets in addition to closing down these outlets, and the National Liquor Authority supports this proposal. Liquor products found in illegal operations are branded, and can be traced back to their producers of suppliers. This issue of liability was debated extensively during the public consultation process on the Draft Liquor Policy Review Document published by the dti on 20 May 2015.

The increasing socio-economic harm that comes with liquor trade prompted the dti to embark on this review of the National Liquor Policy improve effectiveness in liquor regulation. After considering comments submitted, the revised policy will be processed to the National Liquor Policy Council, and then to Cabinet for adoption in due course by the dti.

The recommendations contained in the draft policy aimed to reduce availability, reduce social harm, and advance transformation in the liquor industry. The key recommendations included setting the national minimum age at which alcohol can be purchased to 21 from 18, and the creation of liability for manufacturers and suppliers to ensure they take responsibility for the supply of liquor products.

We need to balance trade of liquor with the socio-economic harm that comes with this harmful substance, and ensure that traders are monitored properly to prevent the social ills. The National Liquor Authority will enhance inspections in communities to identify illegal traders, and ensure they are closed, in cooperation with the SAPS.