MEDIA ALERT
02 September 2026
ECLB TO LAUNCH LEARNER AMBASSADOR CAMPAIGN TO TACKLE UNDERAGE DRINKING IN INGQUZA HILL
The Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) will on Friday, 04 September 2026, launch its Learner Ambassador Programme at Lusikisiki College of Education, bringing together learners from high schools across the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality in a concerted effort to tackle underage drinking and its impact on young people.
The programme is more than simply teaching learners about the dangers of alcohol. It is about giving young people a voice in protecting one another.
Ten (10) high schools from Ingquza Hill Local Municipality will participate in the Underage Drinking Awareness Ambassador Programme. Each school will select four learners two boys and two girls to serve as learner ambassadors and peer educators within their schools and communities.
These young ambassadors will be equipped with information, communication skills and practical tools to engage their fellow learners about the risks associated with underage drinking.
The ECLB believes that some of the most powerful conversations about alcohol can happen between young people themselves – in the classroom, on the sports field, in the community and among friends.
For a learner who is struggling to say no when friends offer alcohol, hearing that message from another young person who understands the pressure they face can make a difference.
The peer-to-peer approach will enable ambassadors to speak to their peers in a language and manner that is relatable, helping learners understand that the consequences of underage drinking are not distant or abstract. They can affect school performance, relationships, personal safety, health and, ultimately, the opportunities young people have to build a better future.
The initiative also comes at a time when schools and communities continue to face challenges associated with “pens down” parties and other end-of-term celebrations, where young people can be exposed to alcohol, peer pressure, unsafe environments and other risky behaviour.
Behind every statistic about underage drinking is a young person whose future can be affected.
It could be a learner who stops attending school, a teenager injured in an alcohol-related incident, or a family forced to deal with consequences that could have been prevented. The campaign therefore seeks to move the conversation beyond simply telling young people what not to do, and instead empower them to make informed decisions and look out for one another.
Executive Mayor of Ingquza Hill Local Municipality, Cllr Pepping, is expected to address the learners and encourage them to take responsibility for protecting themselves and their peers.
The campaign will reinforce the message:
“MY FUTURE MATTERS, ALCOHOL MUST WAIT!”
The ECLB is also calling on parents, traditional and community leaders, schools, government, the liquor industry and communities to play an active role in creating environments where children can grow, learn and celebrate safely without being exposed to alcohol-related harm.
The success of the programme will ultimately be measured not only by the number of ambassadors trained, but by the conversations they start and the choices they inspire among their peers.
The ECLB hopes that these learner ambassadors will become positive voices in their schools and communities – young people who can confidently say no to underage drinking and yes to their education, safety, health and future.
EVENT DETAILS
Event: Launch of the ECLB Learner Ambassador Programme
Date: Friday, 04 September 2026
Time: 09H00–13H00
Venue: Lusikisiki College of Education
Participating Schools: 10 high schools from Ingquza Hill Local Municipality
Issued by:
Eastern Cape Liquor Board
For media enquiries:
Dr Mgwebi Msiya
Spokesperson
Tel: 060 501 6418
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ENDS
