Liquor issues come under the spotlight

EASTERN Cape people poured R8.6-billion into their glasses and drank it. This is the amount households in the province spent on booze in the last financial year (2014-15). Liquor sales also generated taxes of R1.7-billion in this period, Eastern Cape Liquor Board chief executive Khanyile Maneli said.

In an interview last week, Maneli looked at liquor industry positives, but also pulled no punches speaking about problems caused by alcohol.

Results of a board-commissioned study on the socio-economic contribution of the liquor industry to the provincial economy showed the liquor industry provided 23 620 direct and indirect jobs.

Maneli said: “The liquor industry is increasingly receiving attention from the public and invariably is associated with social ills in our communities that arise from excessive liquor consumption and inconsiderate trading.

“I must also concede that in regulating the liquor industry, we are grappling with the proliferation of illegal taverns in the province. However, we are working relentlessly to ameliorate this challenge.”

There were 8 311 liquor trading licences granted in the province.

Last year, the board spearheaded 140 blitz operations across the province and discovered 405 illegal liquor traders at work. Liquor worth R350 450 was confiscated.

Maneli said: “Under-age drinking is interfering with children’s development, affecting the nation’s ability to respond to economic challenges in the future.

“Therefore, the board remains steadfast in its efforts to combat this menace.”

Maneli said the contribution of the alcohol industry to the economy was small compared to the other provinces, but it was growing.

“The need for the study was stimulated by a strong desire to gain an in-depth understanding of the extent to which the industry benefits the economy of the province.”

Maneli said the R8.6-billion of alcohol purchased by Eastern Cape households represented 9% of the country’s total household expenditure on liquor.

Out of the nine provinces, the Eastern Cape was the fourth largest contributor to the total national liquor industry, contributing approximately 8%, Maneli said.

The Eastern Cape accounted for 9% of jobs created by the liquor industry in South Africa, and made up 8% of the industry’s total contribution to the national gross domestic product.

Maneli condemned driving under the influence of alcohol and urged community members to report inconsiderate trading on the toll-free number 080-000-0420.