EASTERN CAPE LIQUOR BOARD URGES PARENTS, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNTIES TO PREVENT PENS DOWN PARTIES
ECLB
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Media Release
For immediate release
05 June 2023
EASTERN CAPE LIQUOR BOARD URGES PARENTS, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNTIES TO PREVENT PENS DOWN PARTIES
As the June examinations will be completed in two weeks’ time, Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) is alarmed to learn that some learners have started to make plans to organise ‘Pens Down’ parties. ECLB strongly condemns this behaviour with the strongest possible terms and urges learners to refrain this tendency.
These parties tend to end in disaster as it was the case with the catastrophic Enyobeni Tavern incident where 21 young people perished in a tavern during Pens’ Down celebrations in June 2022. As the examinations are in progress around the province; it is unfortunately the time when learners start to plan for the Pens’ Down parties that are predominantly marked by excessive consumption of alcohol.
We urge parents to be extremely vigilant during this period and to keep track of their children’s whereabouts. We further send a stern warning to all liquor traders not to host these Pens’ Down parties in their establishments as this is a gross violation of their trading conditions and a criminal offence. We commend learners and other members of community who continue to report these cases to the ECLB and SAPS.
Principals of all schools must heighten the message on “No to Anti Pens Down”. We also implore our ambassadors and other responsible learners to be vigilant in and outside school and to report to school authorities any suspicious actions by their fellow learners.
ECLB school Ambassadors and members of the community may report liquor traders who plan to host Pens’ Down parties and those who serve alcohol to the underage persons to the ECLB Toll Free 0800 000 420 or send a WhatsApp message to 076 4036 223.
ECLB will take necessary and drastic actions against any liquor outlet that is non-compliant by, among other things, selling alcohol to the underage persons and hosting the abhorrent Pens’ Down parties.
For any enquiries, please contact Mgwebi Msiya at 060 501 6418/ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Issued by the Eastern Cape Liquor Board
