O&L employees staff empowered to know the dangers of alcohol abuse

The DRINKiQ Program by Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) – a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group – has kicked off the year to a good start with more than 300 people empowered with knowledge on facts about alcohol and the dangers of alcohol abuse.

According to the O&L Group Manager: Corporate Communica-tions, Roux-che Locke, the DRINKiQ training program enriches participants’ knowledge on the mental, psychological and physical risks involved when abusing alcohol, and provides them with the necessary IQ to understand the repercussions of alcohol abuse. Locke: “At the end of the program, participants have a better understanding of the short- and long-term effects of alcohol abuse and thus empower them to make smart decisions when it comes to the use of alcohol.”
During the past eight (8) months, 617 Namibians from both in and outside the O&L Group have undergone the training. Locke: “The DRINKiQ Program does not exist only for employees of NBL or the O&L Group, but is open to the general public who wishes to enrich their knowledge on the use of alcohol and how to consume it on a more responsible level. The DRINKiQ Program is part of NBL’s contribution to curb the excessive use of alcohol, addressing government’s concern of alcohol abuse.”
Locke adds that for 2017 alone, 317 people have undergone the training.
Locke: “For 2017 we aim to focus more on internal stakeholders. So far the DRINKiQ Program has been conducted at Namibia Dairies’ headquarters in Windhoek; NBL headquarters in Windhoek, and Strand Hotel, Hangana Seafood, Pick n Pay (PnP), NBL and Namibia Dairies at the coast.”
Locke stressed the importance of the pro-gram as being critical in contribution to creating a safer society. Locke: “With the daily repercussions of alcohol abuse seen in our society, the DRINKiQ Program has the potential to be a powerful tool in the fight against alcohol abuse as it addresses the power of behavioural change. When we change our behavior towards alcohol and how we consume it, it is already a great start to curbing societal concerns.”
The total of participants in NBL’s DRINKiQ Program now stands at close to 4000 since its inception in 2009.