ActionSA has learned of yet another tragedy involving minors at a local tavern. One would have thought that the tragic Enyobeni Tavern disaster should have been the last such incident to occur in the socially depressed and impoverished Eastern Cape. The latest case with similar circumstances has been reported where three females, one of whom was a minor, died at the Razzmatazz Tavern in Hofmeyr after allegedly being trampled upon in an apparent stampede as they tried to flee the establishment after an unknown substance was sprayed on patrons.
They died inside the tavern. Four other minors who were at the establishment were taken to the hospital for the treatment of light-headedness and coughing. The reported arrest of the manager of the establishment will not bring solace to the families of the young women, but it should send a clear message to owners of similar establishments not to allow access to minors and not to sell alcohol to them.
Underage drinking is a serious social and public health problem in South Africa, and it is not given the attention and law enforcement it clearly requires. Either directly or indirectly, society is affected by the effects stemming from underage drinking. This is not simply a problem for some families, it is a nationwide concern. Not only has underage drinking led to unnecessary deaths, but it also impairs judgement, causes injuries, and it increases the risk of physical & sexual assault. It is no surprise, although distressing, that the latest statistics from the health department revealed an alarming increase in teenage pregnancy.
Blame should not only be meted out to law enforcement agencies and the owners of liquor establishments, but also to parents and guardians who should play a meaningful role in shaping our youth’s attitudes toward drinking. Parenting is made all the more difficult by the influence of social media and uncontrolled access to this by young and emotionally immature children should be strictly controlled. This however means that parents and guardians have to be present and conscious of what of the children in their care are up to at all times. Sadly, however, there seems to be an inexplicable carelessness in this regard which leads to such tragic consequences as has once again happened in our province. Underage children should not be out unaccompanied late at night let alone being allowed into adult entertainment establishments that sell alcohol and the primary responsibility in this regard is with the parents, guardians or family. The secondary responsibility lies squarely at the door of the licensees and managers of such establishments who should adhere to the liquor licence prescripts and regulations.
Lastly, the overarching responsibility is with the State’s regulatory bodies and the law-and-order agencies, who in the last two tragedies have been conspicuous by their absence and or delinquency.
Any establishment that allows access and sells alcohol to minors should face the harshest consequences including loss of licence and prosecution for any infringement of the law and any physical harm or loss of life of minors.
The Enyobeni Tavern tragedy happened long before the “silly” festive season and it is a reasonable assumption that underage drinking will spike during this season, yet it seems that the Eastern Cape government and all its related enforcement agencies have not learnt from this tragedy as once again we are faced with a similar and very tragic incident.
We would like to implore all parents and guardians to be vigilant for the remainder of the festive season and in future. But it should not just be the responsibility of parents/guardians to police the undesirable behaviour of our youth, it should be the responsibility of all of society. As the saying goes: “it takes a village to raise a child”. Events like the “pens down” and “Rage” Festivals, at which matriculants celebrate finishing 12 years of school, should be very carefully controlled with the strict application of the law and relevant curfews.
ActionSA will initiate a petition to promote the proper control of access of minors to drinking establishments and we challenge the Premier of the Province to set up a hotline to report establishments that willfully allow access to minors to their establishments and then serve them alcohol. An ActionSA government will strictly enforce the liquor licensing regulations and promote socially responsible behaviour and healthy citizenry.
Razzmatazz Tavern Deaths: ActionSA to Petition for Better Monitoring of Underage Drinking
ActionSA has learned of yet another tragedy involving minors at a local tavern. One would have thought that the tragic Enyobeni Tavern disaster should have been the last such incident to occur in the socially depressed and impoverished Eastern Cape. The latest case with similar circumstances has been reported where three females, one of whom was a minor, died at the Razzmatazz Tavern in Hofmeyr after allegedly being trampled upon in an apparent stampede as they tried to flee the establishment after an unknown substance was sprayed on patrons.
They died inside the tavern. Four other minors who were at the establishment were taken to the hospital for the treatment of light-headedness and coughing. The reported arrest of the manager of the establishment will not bring solace to the families of the young women, but it should send a clear message to owners of similar establishments not to allow access to minors and not to sell alcohol to them.
Underage drinking is a serious social and public health problem in South Africa, and it is not given the attention and law enforcement it clearly requires. Either directly or indirectly, society is affected by the effects stemming from underage drinking. This is not simply a problem for some families, it is a nationwide concern. Not only has underage drinking led to unnecessary deaths, but it also impairs judgement, causes injuries, and it increases the risk of physical & sexual assault. It is no surprise, although distressing, that the latest statistics from the health department revealed an alarming increase in teenage pregnancy.
Blame should not only be meted out to law enforcement agencies and the owners of liquor establishments, but also to parents and guardians who should play a meaningful role in shaping our youth’s attitudes toward drinking. Parenting is made all the more difficult by the influence of social media and uncontrolled access to this by young and emotionally immature children should be strictly controlled. This however means that parents and guardians have to be present and conscious of what of the children in their care are up to at all times. Sadly, however, there seems to be an inexplicable carelessness in this regard which leads to such tragic consequences as has once again happened in our province. Underage children should not be out unaccompanied late at night let alone being allowed into adult entertainment establishments that sell alcohol and the primary responsibility in this regard is with the parents, guardians or family. The secondary responsibility lies squarely at the door of the licensees and managers of such establishments who should adhere to the liquor licence prescripts and regulations.
Lastly, the overarching responsibility is with the State’s regulatory bodies and the law-and-order agencies, who in the last two tragedies have been conspicuous by their absence and or delinquency.
Any establishment that allows access and sells alcohol to minors should face the harshest consequences including loss of licence and prosecution for any infringement of the law and any physical harm or loss of life of minors.
The Enyobeni Tavern tragedy happened long before the “silly” festive season and it is a reasonable assumption that underage drinking will spike during this season, yet it seems that the Eastern Cape government and all its related enforcement agencies have not learnt from this tragedy as once again we are faced with a similar and very tragic incident.
We would like to implore all parents and guardians to be vigilant for the remainder of the festive season and in future. But it should not just be the responsibility of parents/guardians to police the undesirable behaviour of our youth, it should be the responsibility of all of society. As the saying goes: “it takes a village to raise a child”. Events like the “pens down” and “Rage” Festivals, at which matriculants celebrate finishing 12 years of school, should be very carefully controlled with the strict application of the law and relevant curfews.
ActionSA will initiate a petition to promote the proper control of access of minors to drinking establishments and we challenge the Premier of the Province to set up a hotline to report establishments that willfully allow access to minors to their establishments and then serve them alcohol. An ActionSA government will strictly enforce the liquor licensing regulations and promote socially responsible behaviour and healthy citizenry.