Lyse Comins

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lysecomins@gmail.com or post@inl.co.za alcohol to a moderate degree, just like all illicit substances,” Bechoo said.

Pastor Kevin Aaron, head of the Living Waters Empowerment Centre in Verulam, said 20-30% of the 300 addicts treated over the past three years were under 14 years old and in some cases parents were aware of teenagers drinking and going to night clubs. He described alcohol as a “gateway” drug that destroyed lives.

“Children are drinking alcohol and it is just a window period with a beer and then they gradually get into drugs. Alcohol is really taking its toll, our community is being devastated. There needs to be more policing and stricter measures must be taken. Twenty-one is a good age,” he said.

SA National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence director Walter Peterson said legislation should be coupled with education on alcohol and substance abuse, “otherwise we will just have a law on our law books and nothing will come of it”.

Petersen said teenage binge drinking was a growing problem.

“At matric parties youngsters are under supervision, but they get themselves into a stupor and that sets the scene for all other kinds of social ills. Kids are vulnerable to group sex and other ills because inhibitions are down and they experiment with all kinds of things,” he said.

SA Muslim Network chairman Dr Faisal Suliman said the proposal was “long overdue” and would bring South Africa up to standard with other countries and reduce alcohol- related problems such as motor vehicle accidents, rape, date rape and women abuse.

“While there are people who speed with motor vehicles, most people drive within the rules. Similarly there will always be early adopters and those who break laws, but by