The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) together with the Gauteng Liquor Board will host the Sobriety Week campaign on Thursday, 8 September 2016 at the Mbolekwa Community Hall in Atteridgeville, Tshwane. With its continuous theme of “Combating Liquor Abuse is Everyone’s Business”, the department has lined up dedicated activities directed at liquor traders and communities on the responsible use of liquor.

The Sobriety Week, which will run from 5-9 September 2016, is an annual national campaign aimed at creating awareness to the general South African public, particularly the youth, women and pregnant women about the adverse effects of liquor abuse.

According to Minister Rob Davies, the national campaign owes its origin to a strategy that was developed by the National Liquor Regulators Forum (NLRF) in 2011 with measurable actions.

“One of the proposed actionable measures proposed in the strategy was a week-long campaign comprising of heightened activities on how to combat liquor abuse. The campaign is also aimed at raising awareness about the high risk behavioural activities related to alcohol abuse such as violence, risky sexual activities, and the spread of HIV/AIDS,” says Davies.

He adds that the campaign also encourages behavioural change by encouraging activism amongst concerned members of the public in the battle against alcohol and drug abuse.

During the campaign, information is also shared with the attendees about the services offered by the dti that are geared towards creating an enabling environment for communities to participate in the main stream economy and create their own jobs.

Minister Davies further states that the campaign will incorporate the International Foetal Alcohol Syndrome Day which is being observed internationally on September 9 every year, to highlight the irreversible damage that is caused to unborn babies when their mothers consume alcohol during pregnancy.

Issued by Department of Trade and Industry