Alcohol confiscations spike during festive season

ALCOHOL confiscations in Cape Town surged sharply over December with close to 13000 units of confiscations, even as police and emergency services recorded fewer assaults, domestic violence cases and road accidents during the festive season.

- STAFF REPORTER

Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) logged 15931 incidents, down from 17722 the previous year. Assault-related calls fell from 979 to 698, domestic violence calls from 499 to 390, and road accident calls from 514 to 396. Complaints linked to the illegal sale or discharge of fireworks, however, more than doubled.

The City’s Law Enforcement Liquor Pound received 12 595 units of alcohol between December 1 and January 1 - equal to 5673.83 litres - a steep rise on the same period last year, when just under 3500 litres were seized.

The spike came alongside a 35% increase in drunk-driving arrests, with enforcement agencies intensifying operations across the metro.