Cape Town authorities dispose of 3,000 litres of alcohol in festive season crackdown

The City of Cape Town on Thursday disposed of nearly 3,000 litres of confiscated alcohol, serving as a stern reminder to the public regarding the prohibition of drinking in public spaces.

JP Smith, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, joined senior Metro Police staff to oversee the disposal of liquor seized since the beginning of December. According to Smith, the volume of alcohol confiscated highlights a persistent and serious issue of substance abuse, particularly during the festive season.

"This is a major factor for us. Alcohol consumption in public spaces remains one of the biggest headaches for our enforcement and emergency staff," Smith stated.

The impact of this consumption is reflected in the City’s emergency data. Smith noted that over the past six months, the City’s emergency services have responded to more than 6,000 trauma-related calls, a significant portion of which were linked to alcohol abuse.

As the festive season reaches its peak, Smith also issued an urgent plea to motorists to refrain from drinking and driving to ensure the safety of all road users.