In my opinion: Wear bulletproof vests to taverns
"People need to think of ways to protect themselves."
It is high time tavern-goers wore bulletproof vests and respirator gas masks when going to their favourite drinking spots.
Reading the recent news on these ‘random’ deaths in taverns across the country has made it clear to me that partying in that setup is kind of risky.
Well, for someone like myself who grew up near a tavern in Gamalakhe, I have never been fond of them.
It was mostly because of the stigma that was attached to girls who go to taverns, and the stories I grew up hearing about some of the neighbours who were stabbed to death inside these drinking joints; that stopped me from going to taverns.
But there are people of all ages who enjoy partying in taverns and that is why they need to start thinking of creative ways to protect themselves while out in those spots.
Although it is still not clear how the 20 young people in Enyobeni Tavern in the Eastern Cape recently died or why 12 people were shot at an establishment in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday night; people need to start re-evaluating where they drink and what they are wearing when drinking.
There currently seems to be a pattern of violent crimes in taverns in the country because there were recent reports of Gauteng police who are still looking for suspects that are behind a mass shooting that left 15 people dead outside a tavern in Soweto on Sunday morning.
I am no safety expert but people need to start worrying about their safety when out drinking. I would say drink closer to the tavern’s door so that it would be easier to run, but I feel that advice is naïve.
As much as I would suggest bulletproof vests and those gas masks just in case something deadly is sprayed in the air but I think the best solution is to buy your drinks and go drink at home.
No one can ever run away from death but it is best to be cautious, at least until the owners of these establishments collaborate with law enforcement officials to ensure the safety of their customers inside and outside their facilities; until tavern-goers themselves find more safe ways to drink in those setups.
But that is just my opinion.
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