Alcohol Evidence Centers set to crackdown on drunk driving

The Johannesburg Metro Police Department in conjunction with the South-African Breweries limited (SAB) recently handed over seven based mobile Alcohol Evidence Centres in Dube, Soweto.

With 10 brick-and-mortar AECs already handed over to various South African municipalities across the country, these centres make South Africa’s roads safer by empowering authorities to enforce regulations with world-class infrastructure and technology to help process drunk arrests.

Additionally, the mobile AECs will aid authorities in their fights against drunk drivers across the province with the ability to move around to multiple hotspot zones

“Together with JMPD, SAB believes more interventions need to take place to make South Africa’s roads safer. Our mission is to partner with traffic law enforcement partners in trying to combat road fatalities, this has been made possible through interventions such as the Mobile AEC’s.” says Mduduzi Lokotfwako, SAB’s Director of stakeholder and Government.

Since inception over a decade ago, AEC’s have become crucial in helping law enforcement test suspected drunk drivers and confirm their breath limit using Evidentiary Breath Alcohol Testing (EBAT) and registered medical practitioners.

The centers are all fully equipped to also ensure that the evidence is properly collected and admissible in court.

JMPD Acting Chief of Police Thulani Khanyile says: “Our aim is to also ensure that road fatalities are reduced in the City of Johannesburg. Just as much as we want successful prosecution of the offenders. It’s also important to note that we are about to enter the festive season where we see increased incidences of drunken driving and a spike in road fatalities, so the opening of the AEC and the handover of the mobile AEC comes at a perfect time where we can address these issues”

The handover of the 7 Mobile AECs at Dube Vocational Centre in Soweto falls in line with SAB Sharp, a responsible consumption platform from where SAB can direct its efforts to create a more responsible drinking culture in South Africa.

According to Lokotfwako this AEC handover falls in line with SAB’s broader ‘Responsible Drinking Goals, which is a set of programmes and initiatives focused on shifting social norms, consumer behaviours, and business practices. Developed alongside public health officials, these goals reflect our belief in evidence-based solutions and that independent, rigorous and transparent measurement and evaluation are key to progress.