Yet despite this it is well known that the Western Cape has the highest occurrence of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in the world. According to a study done by the UCT-based Foundation for Alcohol Related Research the prevalence of FAS among children in the Western Cape's rural areas was as high 10%. This means for every thousand children starting school, 100 were suffering from FAS. In the metro area of the Province, the rate of FAS among first grade learners was about 4,5%. Which means about 45 of every thousand grade one learners were detected FAS.
The study also found that in institutions for the mentally handicapped about 25% of patients have FAS. At anti-natal clinics 50% of women were found to have been drinking during pregnancy and about half of those were drinking heavily, the study said.
Another unsavoury fact is that the unlicensed nature of the majority of the liquor trade has lent itself to the involvement of organized crime in the liquor trade. This ranges from the unlicensed sale of liquor, to the use unsuitable premises, the involvement of gangs, prostitution, extortion and the perpetration of violent crimes, such as rape and murder.
As part of the project to ensure that liquor licence holders become aware of their social responsibility to promote a culture of responsible alcohol consumption the Department of Economic Development and Tourism has produced a booklet, "Tackling Alcohol Problems". The booklet will be distributed to all liquor licence holders in the Western Cape and to all new liquor licence holders as licences are issued.
The booklet 'Tackling Alcohol Problems' is the first step towards the education of the liquor trader. It is easily readable and conveys in a fun-filled way important messages, about the dos and don'ts of selling liquor. We want liquor traders to be become responsible citizens of the community.
It tells the liquor trader that you are part of a community and that the continued existence of his or her business depends on that community. It therefore doesn't help to kill the goose that the lays the golden egg.
The book will be used for this purpose until the new provincial liquor legislation becomes operational and accredited mandatory training programmes become part of the licensing requirement within the Western Cape.
The Province adopted a White Paper on liquor regulation in March 2005 and is in the process of drafting and promulgating legislation that will provide for a more responsible approach to the sale of liquor.
The legislation places an emphasis on the training of liquor licence holders to ensure they are aware of their responsibility to clients and the broader community. The policy and legislation of the Western Cape will require the mandatory training of all new liquor licence holders.
Training and awareness has never been a requirement of entering the liquor trade within South Africa and the imposition of this requirement is a first within the country for liquor licensing. It has however been a feature of other licensing systems in the country such as drivers' licences and firearm licences, where such requirements are regarded as standard.
Training programmes are being developed and accreditation with the appropriate SETA will be sought. It is envisaged that such courses may be presented through Further Education Training colleges in the Province.
While aware of the harmful effects of the liquor trade the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, also understands that during the apartheid era this industry was for many black communities the only source of economic activity.
The history of apartheid is reflected in the history of the liquor trade. The existence of a large number of unlicensed shebeens in the historically disadvantaged residential neighbourhoods can be directly linked to discriminatory liquor licensing legislation of the past.
Up to the 1960's it was illegal for an African person to purchase "western- style" liquor while coloured and persons of Asian descent were only entitled to purchase two or three bottles of liquor per month. Obviously no black person could obtain a liquor licence. The reasonable demands by black persons for entertainment and access to liquor could not be met through lawful means, resulting in a proliferation of unlicensed outlets that trade in residential areas. At a stage the local authorities used the sale of liquor in officially sanctioned beer halls as a means to raise revenue and the beer halls bore much of the brunt of the communities' anger in the resistance against apartheid.
Today approximately 80% of the liquor trade remains unlicensed. It is estimated that there are between twenty and thirty thousand shebeens in the Western Cape. By contrast there are approximately five thousand licensed establishments in the Western Cape, almost all of these are in the formerly white areas and the central business districts of urban areas and include wine farms, hotels, restaurants and bottle stores.
While the new liquor is aimed at regulating the industry, efforts like the booklet go a long way in ensuring that we attach a human and caring face to liquor trade.
I congratulate the authors of the book on an excellent achievement and the Department believes that the book will go a long way to promote a culture of responsible use of liquor.
Thank You.
