The Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) cordially invites media to the launch of the Underage Drinking Campaign, which is aimed to alleviating the scourge of underage drinking in schools in Nelson Mandela Metro Municipality, Motherwell.

The scourge of underage drinking in schools is a cause for concern, henceforth, ECLB in partnership with Shoprite Checkers has adopted 11 schools from Motherwell to intensify education on the dangers of underage drinking.

Various stakeholders including the Executive Mayor will grace the launch of the campaign.

The launch of the campaign will be preceded by handing over of sanitary towels at three high schools in Motherwell (Masiphathisane, James Jolobe & Douglass Mbopa), which will start at 08h30.

The actual launch will start at 10h00. The main theme of the campaign is “My future matters, alcohol must wait”.

The launch of the campaign is scheduled to take place as follows:

Date: 23rd March 2022

Phase 1: Handover of sanitary Towels

Time: 08h30 – 09h30

Venue: Masiphathisane, James Jolobe and Douglass Mbopa high schools

Phase 2: Official Launch of the Campaign

Time: 10h00 – 15h20

Venue: Reymond Mhlaba Centre, Motherwell

For enquiries you can contact ECLB Spokesperson Mgwebi Msiya on 0605016418 Or  Contact Senior Communication Officer, Pumlani Fani on 0605546950

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In its endeavour to clamp down on non-compliant liquor outlets, the Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Police conducted a Blitz Operation in Ngqeberha.

A total of six (6) liquor outlets were visited to check compliance with liquor trading conditions and three were found to be non-compliant and were immediately closed.

As the Festive Season looms large, ECLB is intensifying its efforts to enforce compliance among liquor traders, including identifying liquor traders who sell liquor without valid liquor licenses.

“I want to send a strong warning to all liquor traders to refrain from violating trading conditions and would like to further sensitise liquor traders that the ECLB in collaboration with the SAPS will be all over the province to monitor and enforce compliance throughout this Festive Season”. Said ECLB CEO, Dr Nombuyiselo Makala.

The CEO further reiterated that the Board will not tolerate cases of non-compliance that often become rampant during the Festive Season. Said the CEO: “We also wish to urge members of the community to be our ears and eyes in their communities by reporting cases of non-compliance by liquor traders – including non-compliance with Covid 19 Health Protocols – through ECLB’s Toll Free Number 080 000 0420 or they can send a WhatsApp message to 076 503 6223”.

For enquiries you can contact ECLB Spokesperson Mgwebi Msiya at 0605016418 or email @ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Eastern Cape Liquor Board to donate sanitary towels to Cowen High School in New Brighton in Gqeberha at 8h30 on Friday to mark its fight against the Feotal Alcohol Syndrome but also to encourage learners to refrain from experimenting with alcohol.

The campaign also seeks to encourage young girls to prioritize their education.

It remains an immense concern to the ECLB to receive reports that young girls are experimenting with alcohol and against the backdrop of reported increasing teenage pregnancy there is high risk that young girls might be affected by the FAS.

During this campaign ECLB will be accompanied by SAPS, Red Cross and other NGOs to the school.

After the school visit ECLB will visit malls around the New Brighton area to further emphasize its message on the dangers of ten Feotal Alcohom Syndrome which essentially results from a woman who consumed alcohol during pregnancy and gives birth to a disabled child.

Media is invited to join the Eastern Cape Liquor Board to a programme that is scheduled as follows:

Date: 10 September Venue: Cowen High school, New Brighton

Time: 8h30

For enquiries you can contact Mgwebi Msiya at 0605016418

Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) is joining the world in commemorating the International Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Day. Every year on September 9th, International FAS Awareness Day is observed in countries in and around the world. 

Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) is joining the world in commemorating the International Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Day.

Every year on September 9th, International FAS Awareness Day is observed in countries in and around the world. Bells are rung at 9:09 in every time zone.

South Africa has the highest reported FAS prevalence rates in the world, ranging from 26/1000 (2,6%) in Gauteng to 282/1000 (28,2%) in the Northern Cape Province (May 2016; Olivier, 2016; Urban, 2016).

An FAS study that was conducted in Gqeberha also shows the FAS prevalence rate of 130/1000. Babies whose mothers drank alcohol during their pregnancy can be born with birth defects and developmental disabilities.

The problems that can happen when babies are exposed to alcohol are grouped together and called Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs).

These include a wide range of physical, behavioural, and learning problems.

FAS is 100% irreversible, but it is also 100% preventable. Importantly, NO amount of alcohol is safe to use during pregnancy. FAS affects children in the following ways, but not limited to: Poor growth - new-borns may have low birth weights and small heads.

They may not grow or gain weight as well as other children. Birth defects - FAS can cause heart, bone, and kidney problems. Vision problems and hearing loss are common.

Seizures and other neurologic problems such as learning disabilities, and poor balance and coordination. Delayed Development – kids may not reach milestones at the expected time.

In commemorating the International FAS, ECLB is embarking on rigorous campaigns in Gqeberha, which are used as platforms to educate women and communities about the dangers of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, which may result in FAS.

Schools, clinics, liquor outlets and Malls will be visited in the Gqeberha area to reach a broad spectrum of the community with the FAS messages.

The commemoration is being organized in partnership with various stakeholder such as SAPS, EC Health, CPF’s, EC Education and Local NGOs.

The theme of the campaign: “Protect your unborn baby, do not drink during pregnancy”.

Media is, therefore, cordially invited to be part of the campaign to assist to spread the message of the scourge of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome in communities.

Details of the event are as follows:

Date : 08- 10 September 2021

Venues : Five Clinics, Five Schools, Five Tarvens, Two Taxi ranks, Four Malls All in Gqeberha.

Time : 08h00 - 16h00

For enquiries you can contact Mgwebi Msiya on 0605016418.

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The Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) urges liquor traders to enforce Covid 19 health protocols consistently and stringently on their liquor outlets to prevent the rapid spread of Covid 19 that has heretofore prompted frequent suspensions of alcohol sale.

Previously liquor outlets have been accused of being super spreaders of the Covid 19 cases due to glaring non-adherence to Covid 19 health protocols. As a result, the sale of alcohol was suspended on numerous occasions, and invariably suspensions have had a long-term economic effect on the business viability of the liquor industry.

In addition, frequent alcohol bans have resulted in the total closure of some liquor outlets and massive job losses. Undeniably, previous frequent alcohol bans have overwhelmingly impacted livelihood of many people within the liquor industry space.

Against the backdrop of the current growing cases of Covid 19 in the Eastern Cape, liquor traders are encouraged to ensure that their outlets strictly enforce health protocols that include social distancing, sanitising, and wearing of masks by patrons.

They are also urged to rigorously observe trading times as prescribed in the National Disaster Management Regulations to avoid flagrant violation of the Covid 19 regulations. Liquor traders must encourage their patrons to go for vaccination to protect themselves against the impact of the Corona Virus infection.

Vaccinated patrons will ensure that liquor outlets reduce potential cases of being Covid 19 super spreaders. They must introduce strict compliance measures to prevent any possible future suspensions of alcohol sale.

It is also important to stress that members of the community can report cases of non-compliance by liquor outlets to the nearest police station or to the ECLB Toll-Free Complaints Line 080 000 0420 or can send a message to WhatsApp number 076 403 6223.

For any enquiries, you can contact ECLB Spokesperson 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