MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) councillor, Jeanette Gouws, in a press release, stated several objections to the adoption of a new by-law on the control of liquor outlets.
• The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mossel Bay passes new by-law extending hours for the sale of alcohol
• In contradiction of the Western Cape Provincial Policy on alcohol harms reduction
• In contradiction of the safety concerns noted in the municipality`s own community safety plan
• Places vulnerable children at risk
• Places greater burden on policing services and neighbourhood watches
In the municipality's own Community Safety Plan it recognises alcohol abuse and the hours in which taverns operate as a serious concern in eight of the 14 wards in Mossel Bay.
Yet, on Thursday, 28 June in the monthly council meeting all DA councillors present voted in favour of extending the trading hours of liquor outlets in Mossel Bay and surrounds.
This, despite the additional burden it will place on police services and the associated neighbourhood watches as well as the risk to vulnerable children living in these communities.
While the DA have said that the aim of the by law is to make illegal operators less attractive the reality is that extended hours will promote ease of access to alcohol and will be a contributing factor to increased criminal activity, harm to society and both direct and indirect costs to taxpayers.
These costs and burdens come in the form of increased crime. This according to the minister of police who stated that alcohol abuse is a standing feature in driving up levels of crime, most notably violent crime such as murder.
Police officers that respond to calls in these circumstances are also at greater risk of losing their lives or suffering severe injury. Statistics from several bodies indicate that a far greater number of rapes, assaults and incidences of domestic violence are committed by perpetrators that are under the influence of alcohol.
Millions of rand are spent each year in awareness programmes to prevent the abuse of women and children (although men and boys are also abused) including programs run by this municipality, yet for all intents and purposes they are working against themselves by extending trading hours for alcohol sales.
Indirect costs in the form of trauma counselling, HIV drug provision and further demands on already strained health services negate the additional income to state coffers in the form of sin tax and vat.
Other indirect costs to society and the taxpayer, both social and financial come in the form of children that are born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
South Africa has the highest rate in the world, due to the fact that we rank amongst the highest consumers of alcohol, per capita, in the world.
These children need special care and often need to be placed in special needs schools.
Unfortunately they are also at high risk of dropping out of school and falling into a life of crime.
It is the opinion of the ACDP that the DA has acted recklessly and has failed to adequately consider the risks and ills to communities, our policing and other community safety services, health services and the huge bill that falls on the shoulders of already burdened tax payers in the form of increased taxes.
The ACDP does not believe that the answer lies in increasing access to alcohol for a longer period of time each day, every day of the week but in targeting illegal outlets through actions by law enforcement.
The town also has a municipal court which can expedite the prosecution of law breakers. It is ill fated policy decisions such as these that continue to undermine the prospect of a better South Africa for all.
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