Tackle underage drinking - Kalinglinga residents

THE number of teenagers patronising bars and night clubs in Kalingalinga and neighbouring townships is worring and needs to be checked, concerned residents have said.

In separate interviews, the residents said there was urgent need to address the problem which had become a nightmare for most parents.

A resident, Ms Clara Mangani, said the number of teens patronising drinking places was increasing at alarming levels and fast becoming a threat to society.

Ms Mangani said despite parents calling on the Lusaka City Council (LCC) to move in and control the situation before it reached uncontrollable levels, nothing had been done so far.

She called on the council to strictly enforce by-laws regulating the sale of alcohol, opening and closing time of bars to keep underage drinking in check.

Ms Mangani said parents should also start making their children become accountable and more responsible, saying charity begins at home as parents are better placed to discipline their children.

She said the sad part was that once the youngsters got intoxicated, they resorted to illicit activities such as engaging in unprotected sex, putting them at high risk of contracting HIV/ AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

She said apart from engaging in illicit activities, boys would become violent and attack unsuspected members of the public and steal their valuables.

Another resident, Mr Chomba Ndoyi said LCC should move in quickly and intensify patrols in drinking places and apprehend the culprits.

Mr Nyoyi said LCC should also apprehend and punish severely owners of bars that tolerate underage dirnking.

“Teenagers patronising drinking places and abusing alcohol is a sign of moral erosion. is should be halted by enforcing existing by-laws to stop those abusing alcohol,” he said.