The death of 21 children in a drinking tavern in East London has once again exposed parents, society, and government authorities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One can easily jump to ask the question, rightly so, why underage kids were being sold or given liquor as some reports suggest they were given for free?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We all know it is illegal for underage children to be sold liquor. Even on the containers of these non-holy waters it is stated that alcohol can\u2019t be sold to under 18-year-olds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But this phenomenon has been going on for some time, it was not the first time, and to date it still continues elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As society, what do we do? We turn a blind eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We wait until such a tragic incident occurs, then start pointing fingers and raising eyebrows, to something that has been ongoing in front of our eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just in 2015, at Osawa in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, we also learnt of a tragic incident where eight young people died, ages varying from 15 to 23 during a stampede.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is just one case to illustrate that underage drinking did not take place only in the Enyobeni tavern. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The liquor board authorities are now seen running around, clutching at straws while underage drinking, selling of liquor continues unabated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have the authority to ensure such doesn\u2019t take place, but seemingly it happens with ease. Where is their bite in all of this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that Enyobeni has been thrust into the limelight, they will be visible, but isn\u2019t it too late, now? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This will also slowly die down, but will underage drinking and selling of liquor stop?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I, unfortunately, don\u2019t think so. Parents should re-claim their role and instil discipline in their children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It cannot be that children\u2019s\u2019 rights relegate the role of parenthood onto the benches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the failure to instil values to abide by, children are likely to be easily influenced by their peers on the outside world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the end of the day, those who sell liquor are in it for the profit, but that should not come at the expense of the little children!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This brings me to the point of parents, and the role they play in guiding their offspring into the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any parent that would willy-nilly or on his or her right mind, would allow his or her child to drink alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With that said, is the environment that these children grow up under, conducive enough for them to make much better-informed decision on issues of alcohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are parents better equipped to empower their offspring to make informed decisions about their future? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As parents aren\u2019t we supposed to be nurturing these young souls, so that they become the best versions of themselves? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do we as parents have the capacity to channel our offspring to be better human beings than we have been? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To begin with, how on earth do we go to bed without knowing where our children are? How can it be the \u201cnorm\u201d for a 14-year-old, to knock on the door returning from the \u201cgroove\u201d in the morning? How is this normal? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As adults we need to set standards, and not rely on or hope for better without instilling certain values that may assist our children going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I think it is better to share some wisdom, than live with the guilt of, what it if. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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