Pretoria - The Department of Trade and Industry (dti) has reminded the public to submit their comments on the draft National Liquor Policy Review.
Under the proposed new policy, the legal drinking age would be raised from 18 to 21 years. In addition, the department has also called for stricter controls when it comes to selling and buying alcohol.
“The department reminds the public and the liquor industry to submit their comments on the Draft National Liquor Policy Review Document (Government Gazette Notice No. 38808) by 13 August 2015,” said the department on Wednesday.
The dti granted an extension of time by 30 additional days to 13 August 2015 in order to allow the public the total of 60 days to make inputs.
The department will also host a seminar on the proposed Liquor Policy Review on 29 July in Pretoria East.
The proposals published by the dti for public comments include strengthening the approach on combating liquor abuse and illegal trading, including adjusting the age limit for the supply of liquor and enhancing the liability for traders to ensure that liquor traders operate in a socially responsible manner, among others.
The department said that the scourge of alcohol abuse in South Africa has reached alarming rates and it has become clear that a policy that requires the industry to implement measures to combat alcohol abuse.
“The dti urges the public to make submissions to this consultation process in a manner that provides alternative proposals where challenges or concerns are raised in regard to the proposals made by government. Constructive proposals will assist in enriching the finalisation of the policy review for implementation. Various meetings and workshops are currently held with affected stakeholders to clarify aspects that need to be clarified.”
The information on the policy review and the seminar is available on the website: www.thedti.gov.za. Written comments can be sent to NRamphelea@thedti.gov.za. - SAnews.gov.za
