Ndola Deputy Mayor Kennedy Kasaba has urged bar and nightclub owners to follow the key tenants Contained in the Liquor licensing Act.
Mr Kasaba told them to change their behavior of operations after participating in the Liquor compliance training workshop.
He said that the workshop should serve as a reminder of the need to follow the key tenants contained in the Liquor Licensing Act, Statutory Instrument as well as the COVID 19 guidelines.
Mr Kasaba said the Liquor Lincensing Act and the SI 51 of 2020 forbid the sell of alcohol to people under the age of 18 and guides on the number of hours alcohol could be sold at the various types of premises.
‘’I know most of you may feel like this information has been availed to you before, when the Council gave you your various liquor trading licenses. But I must assure you that, having more information of the laws and regulations governing your operations can save you from penalties or total revocation of licences,” he said.
He said this when he officially opened the Liquor compliance training workshop for bar and night club owners held at Kabelenga Lodge in Ndola.
The Deputy Mayor commended nightclub and bar owners that have constantly worked positively with the local authority by following the different guidelines given with regards to operations especially during the COVID 19 era.
Mr Kasaba who is also Kabushi Councillor was saddened that guidelines that were constantly preached by the Council on noise pollution and underage patrons were still being abrogated.
He said it was discouraging to see stakeholders that were trying to positively contribute to the development of the country through the payment of taxes and provision of employment being penalized for non adherence to the laws.
Mr Kasaba called on more stakeholders to come forward to help push the agenda on responsible drinking.
And Zambian Breweries Legal Council Deborah Bwalya said the Deputy Mayor’s presence at the workshop signified the strong commitment that the local authority placed on the subject of liquor licences compliance and responsible drinking.
Ms Bwalya said that the most important part was to have the conversation of SMART drinking active for sustained behavioral change to be archived.
The Ndola City Council last month signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Zambian Breweries on the Responsible Alcohol Consumption and Harm Reduction Initiative (SMART drinking) Programme.
The Council working in collaboration with Zambian Breweries would be implementing various awareness programmes to increase responsible drinking among patrons as well as increase bar and nightclub owners’ compliance to regulatory frameworks.
