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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
THE country’s largest beverage producer, Delta Corporation, has moved to arrest alcohol abuse among youths through launching a “Pledge 18” campaign to discourage teenagers from drinking.
Delta’s Corporate Affairs manager Tsungie Manyeza said yesterday that the company was concerned with the levels of alcohol abuse among the teenagers as this affected their decisions.
She said this while addressing journalists at the company’s stand at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo.
“We’re launching a campaign called pledge 18, which we’re running for teenagers. Basically what this project is all about is getting teenagers to abstain from alcohol until they’re above 18.
“We would like them to delay their initiation to alcohol and be able to do so when they’re actually responsible. So it’s a catch them young activity,” said Manyeza.
She said many people were making wrong decisions because of irresponsible drinking.
“We’re very concerned about the adverse effects of the irresponsible consumption of alcohol. And what we would like to see from now going forward are more and more responsible consumers, people who would drink their alcohol responsibly and not suffer from any adverse effects of irresponsible consumption,” she said.
Manyeza said they were not only targeting the youth but also parents and guardians who play an important role in raising the teenagers.
“Our young people are influenced by parents and other adults in their lives. So we’re also targeting their role models. We’ve got something that we will be doing for parents. Them also signing pledges around pledge 18 saying they’re going to be working towards stopping underage drinking within their circles as families,” said Manyeza.
Alcohol abuse among youth is rife and when the teenagers consume alcohol they usually become a menace in the city.
Some school going teenagers in Bulawayo engage in vuzu parties where they will drink alcohol before engaging in sex orgies.
This put the youth at risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases as well as teenage pregnancies.
derick.khumalo