Let the people drink! This is the ANC Youth League's current battle in Buffalo City metro after it banned boozing at a popular spot.

The league yesterday said it would soon engage with the metro's political leadership to plead for the reversal of a booze ban at Marina Glen - popularly known as Ebuhlanti - to allow thousands of revellers to drink "without hindrance".

It wants the city's top brass to provide free WiFi at the popular beachfront hangout.

Regional ANCYL secretary Awethu Zumana said yesterday that in their pending meeting with executive mayor Alfred Mtsi and his deputy Xola Pakati, they would also advocate for the city to erect "temporary but decent" ablution facilities, while they start plans on constructing permanent ones "to restore the human dignity" of those frequenting the place.

The call by the league comes just weeks after the metro leadership announced a total ban on alcohol at Ebuhlanti over the festive season, saying drinkers behind the wheel or in public would be arrested by metro law enforcement officers backed up by the SAPS.

At the time, metro spokesman Keith Ngesi said even those carrying alcohol at Ebuhlanti would be arrested.

He further warned that:

Drunk driving suspects would be slapped with a minimum bail fee of R2000;

There would be zero tolerance of drunken driving and swimming or drinking in public; and

Festival event organisers who do not apply to the metro for permission to hold an event by November 15 will be turned away because late applications would have a "detrimental impact on planning".

According to Zumana, the metro's envisaged move to ban the consumption of alcoholic at Ebuhlanti was detrimental to tourism in the region.

He said it was also "a discriminatory posture" towards those who normally used the space to enjoy themselves, or those who use the facility to conduct their small business initiatives.

"We all know that alcohol is not illegal in this country and we also support the liquor board's campaigns on responsible drinking.

"However, we feel that banning alcohol consumption at Ebuhlanti will be tantamount to having a posture that excludes citizens and visitors from enjoying themselves in that unique spot," Zumana said.