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PREVIOUS WINELAND ARTICLES   |   WINELAND HOME Alcohol and Liquor Abuse in Country Districts Conference Liquor abuse costs money by Wanda Augustyn "Why is it important to have a conference on this topic? The economic cost of alcohol abuse in the Western Cape is calculated to be in excess of R1 billion annually and more than a quarter of people who consume alcohol in the Western Cape over weekends exceed the normal risk levels." Thus spoke Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Cobus Dowry, at the Alcohol and Liquor Abuse in Country Districts congress in Goudini. Danie Niemand, responsible for farm worker development at the Agriculture Department, Ds Sam Pick of the Christian Lecture Fund, Joyene Isaacs, departmental head of the Agriculture Department, Sophia Warner, founder of the Pebbles Project, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Cobus Dowry. The objective of this event - organised by the sub-programme Farm Labourer Development of the Department of Agriculture in the Western Cape - was to convene all interested parties and discuss the current state of affairs in the industry and measures taken to combat alcohol and drug abuse in the Western Cape. The two-day congress was characterised by the discussion of problems in the industry with regard to this dilemma. "I am concerned about the moral decay in our farm worker community," Dowry said. "The influence of alcohol on your life and my life and the economy is enormous. As a result of alcohol abuse only 65% of workers achieve their full potential in the work place. People who abuse alcohol are four times more likely to be involved in accidents and compared to people who do not abuse alcohol, they suffer five times more from illness. Between 40-60% of people in fatal accidents were under the influence of alcohol." "The economic cost of alcohol abuse in the Western Cape is calculated to be in excess of R1 billion annually and more than a quarter of people who consume alcohol in the Western Cape over weekends exceed the normal risk levels." Because alcohol abuse also threatens the social circumstances of people and has such a negative influence on the community, Minister Dowry pleaded for a difference to be made where it counts most, namely in the domestic context. "We can beat alcohol abuse just like we managed to overcome other health drawbacks in the past. Prevention programmes and early detection programmes will make a difference." According to Dowry the answer could lie in medical treatment, education and awareness, and accommodation that will enable affected persons to lead productive lives. Other suggestions were leisure facilities for farm workers and awareness programmes at schools, on farms and in towns. "One other aspect which I would like to raise is our spiritual life and the role of the church," he said. "Today I ask the church to embrace our efforts to liberate our people from the bondage of liquor and overall moral decay." Christoff Cloete, President: Agri Western Cape, also emphasised the reinforcement of family values to address liquor abuse. "Families are the building blocks of communities. If churches, schools, sports bodies and agricultural societies target families in their acitivities, we may be able to reconstruct the moral fibre of our communities and face problems such as liquor abuse head on." Cloete said cultural ties, spiritual ties and education play a role in the establishment of a sound family structure. "For a dream or vision to come true, it should be backed up by good education in schools and other education bodies especially. By creating a learning culture or the desire to learn among children, the first step is taken on the road to make a dream come true. "We can beat alcohol abuse just like we managed to overcome other health drawbacks in the past. Prevention programmes and early detection programmes will make a difference." "This also helps people to get a grasp on financial values thereby improving their living conditions, and to cultivate pride and self-esteem, so that they may embark on the road to making that dream come true." Cloete’s comments elicited fierce criticism from some of the other speakers at the conference. Fatiema Shabodien of Women on Farms said they knew what the problems on farms were. "The question is, what are the farmers going to do about it? You are responsible for these problems." Nosey Pieterse, president of the Black Association of the Wine and Spirits Industry (Bawsi), said the emphasis should be on the causes of alcoholism in our communities. According to him the restrictions that were placed on coloured people as regards alcohol consumption are one of the reasons why coloured people become drunkards. "Restrictions promoted drunkenness. A booze culture was established, not a culture of enjoyment of wine. The apartheid regime promoted drunkards." The tot system was also blamed for the current state of affairs among farm worker communities. "I know I will be criticised for harping on the same old subject, but why are these people so sensitive about the past? Why are they so keen to forget old wounds if those wounds have not yet healed?" For Bawsi the solution lies in an industry fund that will be able to change the "booze culture" into one where people simply enjoy wine. The fund could also set up an institute where alcoholics may be treated. Bawsi would also like to see that all alcohol related matters be handled in terms of Schedule 8 of the Code of Good Practice of the LRA as reflected in Item 10(3). Pieterse suggested that ARA be replaced by an organisation that focuses on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in collaboration with FASfacts, the Tot System in collaboration with Dopstop, Taverners in collaboration with Wecalta and research about the anti-foil bag campaign in collaboration with the CRLS. At the congress 16 speakers, representing various NGOs, farm worker organisations, labour organisations, churches, organised agriculture and various government departments provided valuable input on this topic. Several proposals for solutions were suggested. According to Danie Niemand, Director of the Farm Workers Development Programme, the congress was a huge success. "Liquor abuse among farm workers was one of the problems that had been identified at the Farm Workers Indaba in August 2004. For that reason it was important to enter into discussions about it. "The highlight for me was that, despite differences, everyone was in agreement about the extent of the problem. Participants admitted that mistakes had been made in the past and everyone was prepared to join hands and make a fresh start. "The problem is complex, however, and will require a lot of attention and time. What is important, is the fact that it is receiving attention." The outcome of the congress is the creation of a task team, consisting mainly of representatives from the organisations who attended the conference. "The Agriculture Department will play an important role in the selection and formation of the task team." What is more, Agriculture will form part of the task team who will meet with the Department for Social Development in the third quarter to deliberate the various inputs and suggestions. "The Department for Social Development is in the best position and has the necessary infrastructure to take this action to the next level." Other speakers at the congress were: Ds Sam Pick, Christian Lecture Fund Joyene Isaacs, departmental head of the Agriculture Department Francois Grobbelaar of FASfacts Sophie Warner of the Pebbles Project Prof Dennis Viljoen and Leana Olivier of the Foundation for Alcohol Related Research (FARR) Samuel de Koker, chairman of the Farm Worker Coordinating Council Raybin Windvogel of the Liquor Board Handré Liebenberg of the Health Department Pastor Jacobus Nomdoe Jakes du Toit, AA Hilda Links, Dopstop

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