MEMBERS of the Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) and Merensky Timber hosted an awareness campaign to promote responsible alcohol trading in the Alfred Nzo and OR Tambo District Municipality, last week.
According to the spokesperson for ECLB, Mgwebi Msiya, in its endeavour to intensify the fight against underage drinking in schools, they told the serious problems that happen when learners consume liquor.
He said they visited Shukuma Senior Secondary School and Zamokuhle Special School in Bizana, and also Qokolweni Senior Secondary, Jumba Senior Secondary, Joyi Senior Secondary and Sangoni Senior Secondary schools.
He said this initiative would intensify the fight against alcohol abuse in schools and boost awareness among learners.
“Alcohol abuse among young learners continues to cause havoc in schools and (leads to) high crime statistics attributed to alcohol/substance abuse in the areas,” said Msiya.
He added that they were focusing on high schools but they were not leaving primary schools behind in this programme. Msiya said they try by all means to ensure that they also educated learners from primary schools, to help them understand these challenges before going to high schools.
“The reason why it seems as if we are focusing on high schools is that there are taverns next to some of the schools.”
He confirmed that this week they would focus on the schools that fall under Buffalo City and in thereafter they would focus on Chris Hani.
