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The Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) is deeply pained by the untimely death of 20 young people at a tavern at Scenery Park in East London. The Board conveys its heartfelt condolences to families that have tragically lost their loved ones.

ECLB has also learnt with shock that some of the deceased are school-going and under the age of 18. The Board condemns this repugnant incident with the strongest possible terms. “As the Board, we have always been forthright in our condemnation and fight against the sale of alcohol to the underage. We have also consistently taken every necessary step against any liquor outlet that is found to have sold alcohol to the underage” said the Chief executive Officer Dr Nombuyiselo Makala.

Necessary steps are being taken to deal with this liquor outlet including the immediate revocation of the liquor license and laying criminal charges against the license holder for the blatant contravention of the Eastern Cape Liquor Act that clearly stipulates that no alcohol shall be sold to persons under the age of 18.

“We continue to urge communities to report to the ECLB or SAPS any suspicious practices by the liquor outlets within their proximity. To this effect, we have established a Toll—Free number (080 000 0420) and a WhatsApp number (076 403 6223) to enable communities to report cases of non-compliance including the sale of alcohol to the underage people”, said the CEO. 

Invariably, community members have a significant role to play in monitoring and reporting liquor outlets that wittingly or unwittingly flout the trading

Issued by The ECLB Spokesperson Mgwebi Msiya