Tavern under probe over underage drinkers
Bar caught out after posting its pictures on Facebook
The owners of a well-known Gqeberha tavern, Emalaydini, have apologised after photographs of underage children carrying alcohol and in compromising positions were published on their Facebook page.
The Eastern Cape Liquor Board has since lodged an investigation after the pictures of the New Year’s Eve party went viral on social media.
While some social media users circulated the images and poked fun at the children, many lambasted the tavern for failing to exercise its responsibility to prohibit underage children from entering its premises.
Though the children’s exact ages are not known, the tavern’s management has admitted to the presence of minors, saying it was unaware how they had entered.
In a statement published on its Facebook page, the establishment’s management apologised, stating that it was “not quite sure” how the minors had ended up at the venue.
“The purpose of the event was to give back to our community with a free entrance New Year’s Eve event. We do however have bouncers and underage people are not allowed in the [tavern].
“We do, however, acknowledge the pictures posted by our event’s manager and we apologise.
“Moving forward, we will be removing images on our page that shouldn’t be on our page and of underage people who we [are] not quite sure how they ended up at the [tavern].
“However, I’m sure everyone was in a jolly mood that led to such.”
The pictures showed patrons, young and old, dancing and posing for pictures with liquor while others were captured passionately kissing.
One particular image, showing a seemingly pregnant woman carrying a 440ml can of a cider, was also circulated on social media.
Emalaydini’s co-owner Masinga Ndungane said the youngsters, seen in pictures, had been outside the establishment.
He said he constantly ensured that no minors were allowed to buy liquor at Emalaydini but could not control what happened along the streets.
“It would be difficult for me to monitor or control what happens outside the tavern and also sell to people inside, but I do ensure that underage children don’t buy inside.
“Somehow, they do access alcohol, as seen in the pictures, but I suspect maybe they get it from adults who can legally buy.”
Ndungane said he had had good intentions when he started inviting well-known TV personalities and DJs to the establishment.
Unfortunately, he said, the famous faces sometimes attracted large crowds, including minors.
According to past event posters and pictures published on the Emalaydini’s Tavern Facebook page, famous faces like Mampintsha, Babes Wodumo and Cairo CPT have been to the establishment.
On New Year’s Eve, the venue hosted Generations: The Legacy actor Vuyo Dabula.
Liquor Board spokesperson Mgwebi Msiya said it was the establishment’s responsibility to observe trading conditions, which included not selling to underage people.
He said selling alcohol to underage people was a serious transgression of the liquor traders’ trading conditions, which the liquor board viewed in a serious light.
Should the investigation produce findings against the establishment, the liquor board would issue a compliance notice, Msiya said.
“In terms of our legislation, we are required to issue a compliance notice to a liquor outlet that is found flouting trading conditions, including selling to underage [people].
“The notice gives the trader/liquor outlet an opportunity to rectify the reported transgression and is valid for 30 days.
“If after 30 days the outlet continues to contravene the condition, the next steps will be taken, which will culminate in the revocation of the liquor licence,” he said.
A representative from the liquor board had visited the tavern on Sunday.
An SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence senior social worker in the Eastern Cape, Rhiannon Greess, said underaged substance experimentation often led to adult substance abuse.
Greess called on liquor traders to adhere to legislation and not sell alcohol to children.
She further urged traders to monitor what happened in the outlets even after they had sold the liquor.
Greess said she had noted a large number of clients who identified underage experimentation as the starting point to more serious addiction problems.