Fri, 27 Oct 2017 09:35:08 +0000
By Mukosela Kasalwe
A LIQUOR trader has been charged for promoting underage patronage drinking and supplying alcohol without a valid licence.
Patriotic Front Lusaka Central Silwizya Ward 13 councillor Tarcisious Ndolesha said working in collaboration with the Lusaka City Council Department of Public Health and Council Police, a raid was conducted following a tip-off from members of the public that underage drinking had become rampant in Silwizya Ward.
He said upon investigations, underage teenagers, including those below 12 years of age, were found drinking alcohol and most probably taking other psychoactive substances. Some were even found swimming in stagnant water.
The civic leader said this after a raid in his Ward against unsuspecting liquor traders and that one of the proprietors was found trading without a valid liquor licence.
He said the trader was charged for underage patronage drinking, for supplying alcohol and that he would soon appear before relevant authorities to exculpate himself.
“We have just successfully conducted a raid and put to stop an illegal function in our Ward, under the auspices of the Lusaka City Council’s Public Health and Council Police, following a tip-off from concerned members of the public.
“Upon investigations, we found underage teenagers, including those below 12 years of age, drinking intoxicating liquor and most probably other psychoactive substances, with some swimming in stagnant water,” he said.
Mr Ndolesha said it was sad that the liquor trader allowed revellers to swim in dirty water at his premises even when there was an outbreak of cholera and notwithstanding other looming contagious water-borne diseases.
He warned liquor traders to follow the due process of the law and desist from allow underage beer drinkers in their premises or face the wrath of the law.
