The Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Rural Development has officially launched a new Strategic Liquor Stakeholders Forum aimed at addressing alcohol-related harm through stronger partnerships between government, communities and the liquor industry.
The initiative, led in partnership with the Gauteng Liquor Board, marks a collective effort to promote responsible alcohol trading and consumption while tackling the social challenges linked to alcohol abuse across the province.
The forum brings together key industry players, civil society organisations and government departments to develop coordinated interventions focused on harm reduction, public awareness and compliance enforcement.
Among the stakeholders participating in the forum are Aware.org, DF-SA, Heineken Beverages, SAB InBev, Diageo and the Beer Association of South Africa (BASA). These organisations are expected to play a significant role in supporting programmes aligned with Gauteng’s broader social and economic development goals.
The establishment of the forum comes amid growing concern over the impact of alcohol-related harm in Gauteng.
Authorities say issues such as crime, gender-based violence (GBV), road accidents and increasing public health pressures require a united and coordinated response rather than isolated interventions.
Officials highlighted that the stakeholder forum represents the first step in a broader campaign aimed at improving compliance within the liquor sector and cracking down on illegal liquor operators operating across the province.
The initiative will also focus on strengthening collaboration between the liquor industry and communities to encourage safer practices and improve education around responsible alcohol consumption.
Government said the forum will help drive community-based awareness programmes while ensuring that liquor traders comply with existing laws and regulations.
The MEC emphasised the importance of partnerships in building safer communities and promoting a more sustainable liquor sector in Gauteng.
“This marks a collective approach to harm reduction, bringing the liquor industry, communities and government together to drive meaningful change,” the department said.
The province also confirmed that more compliance activations and enforcement operations will follow as part of ongoing efforts to ensure responsible trading and reduce the harmful effects associated with alcohol abuse.
Stakeholders at the launch reiterated their commitment to working together to create safer environments, protect vulnerable communities and support initiatives that contribute to social stability and economic growth in Gauteng.
