Cape Town's alcohol confiscations surge during festive season

After a marked downturn over the peak festive season in 2024, alcohol confiscations ramped up this past December with the City of Cape Town’s Law Enforcement Liquor Pound taking receipt of 12 595 units of alcohol.

The alcohol was confiscated between 1 December and 1 January, and equates to 5 673,83 litres. 

During the corresponding period the previous year, alcohol confiscations totalled 7 434 bottles, equating to just under 3 500 litres, the City said.

There was also a 35% increase in drunk driving arrests over December, but the Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) recorded decreases of between 20-30% in a number of key categories, including assault cases, incidents of domestic violence and road accidents.

The Fire and Rescue Service too recorded a drop in responses to road accidents and trauma cases, but the number of vegetation and residential fires increased. 

“The statistics offer a glimpse into the work that was done across the Safety and Security Directorate over the festive season. What it doesn’t do is highlight the many lives saved through proactive enforcement, education and awareness and visible patrols across the many priority areas in our city. And, while alcohol confiscation is usually a hot topic, no one can deny that the thousands of litres in the pound represent lives saved,” said mayco member for safety and security JP Smith.

“The downturn in trauma-related calls to the PECC and Fire and Rescue Service too is welcomed, but there is a constant need to do even more and for everyone to take accountability for their actions and personal safety. To the thousands of staff members who worked so tirelessly over the festive season to keep Cape Town safe, we salute you.”