Pupils in Kwazakhele, New Brighton and Zwide are taking up the fight against under-age drinking.
The Eastern Cape Liquor Board, along with various government departments, began rolling out the second leg of its Learner Ambassadorship Underage Drinking Programme in Nelson Mandela Bay on Tuesday.
The programme will run at 12 schools in the three townships with newly selected pupil ambassadors tasked with championing a no-drinking stance among their classmates.
The board launched the programme in Motherwell in 2022 after the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy in East London, in which 21 youngsters, the majority of them underage teenagers, died in June.
There have been several disturbing reports indicating that alcohol consumption among pupils is on the rise.
Economic development, environmental affairs and tourism MEC Mlungisi Mvoko was joined at Kwazakhele’s Daku Community Centre on Tuesday by liquor board officials and MPLs for the launch of the second leg of the programme in the city.
The initiative will run at 12 schools in Kwazakhele, New Brighton and Zwide.
Board spokesperson Siya Mgwebi said after the Enyobeni tragedy it had decided to ramp up its anti-underage drinking initiatives, and that the feedback had been positive.
“We have received a report from schools that it is doing well and there has been a decline in the use of alcohol among pupils.
“The ambassadors are active and making a difference,” he said.
Mgwebi said the board aimed to expand the programme to the Bay’s northern areas and Kariega.
The initiative seeks to create an environment where the young ambassadors educate other pupils on the dangers of underage drinking, ensuring they receive information from their peers rather than adults.
Each of the 12 selected schools has nominated four pupils — two boys and two girls — to be ambassadors.
Delivering the keynote address, Mvoko said the level of alcohol abuse among young people in the city, often involving children as young as 13, was a huge concern.
He said though the liquor industry was frequently in the limelight because of the negative social consequences of the sale of alcohol, it also provided positive economic spin-offs in society.
“I applaud the board’s learner ambassador concept that seeks to promote peer education among learners.
“The campaign aims to involve young people to work with others to bring about positive behavioural change,” he said.
Mvoko urged communities and families to be vigilant and protect themselves and their children against delinquent liquor traders by promptly reporting them.
“I wish to thank the organisers and initiators of this programme for their effort.
“I hope and trust that this is the programme that will assist us all in arresting the use and abuse of alcohol by children in our society, with the support of communities.”
Sinethemba Moss, 15, a grade 10 pupil at Kwazakhele High School, said she was excited to be part of the programme.
“We have a serious problem at our schools and within our communities.
“We commit to making a difference,” she said.
She pleaded with her peers to unite in the fight against alcohol abuse.
Already an ambassador, Hlomla Mangcotywa, 17, a grade 11 pupil from Vulumzi High School in Motherwell, said the programme was a game changer for the youth.
“We have seen the difference.
“We were really battling with our peers drinking alcohol but since the launch last year the number has dropped,” he said.
Kwa Joe’s Tavern owner Mongameli Ngqokwe, who was at Tuesday’s launch, urged pupils to focus on school work.
“As a tavern owner, we can’t support under-age drinking.
“We want business but we would rather have you focus on your studies,” he said.
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