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Police Crackdown On ‘Irresponsible Drinkers’ |
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The Botswana Police Service has promised to come down hard on people who they termed as irresponsible drinkers. The police have launched a crackdown on drunken driving,
drinking in prohibited areas which includes outside bars, playing loud music and drinking while walking.
The latest developments show the clear intention by government to control the problem of alcohol abuse in the country, after the recent banning of braaing in bars. It has become a habit for alcohol drinkers to buy their liquor and enjoy it in their cars while playing loud music instead of drinking it in the outlets.
During a recent meeting addressed by the Minister of Justice, Defence and Security Dikgakgamatso Seretse and accompanied by police Chief Thebeyame Tsimako, the minister implored his officers to intensify the fight against alcohol abuse.
The Minister was meeting civic and community leaders in Francistown about measures that could be used to combat crime in the city. Seretse said the war against alcohol abuse should be fought with the same vigour as the fight against HIV/AIDS and asked the police to involve bye law officers to enforce the liquor act.
“When a situation gets out of control you have to evaluate where you are going wrong and in this situation the problem was enforcement of laws and we are correcting that. This is not a response to failed implementation of the alcohol levy,” Seretse said.
Confirming that they had heeded the Minister’s call Superintendent Silton Fidzani of Kutlwano Police Station said last weekend 13 people were arrested at Barcelos, a popular spot in Francistown and subsequently charged and each paid P100 as admission of guilt.
Fidzani said they were targeting loud music from cars in parking lots and people who drink outside designated drinking places and using breathalysers to check alcohol content on drivers. Fidzani said; “These are laws that have always been there and there has been slow implementation but now we have been encouraged to enforce them, and we are going to do just that. People should drink in bars not outside in the parking lots or within the confinement of their homes.”
BY NCHIDZI SMARTS
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