{"id":635169,"date":"2022-10-18T07:36:57","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T05:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=635169"},"modified":"2022-10-18T07:36:57","modified_gmt":"2022-10-18T05:36:57","slug":"new-alcohol-laws-for-south-africa-are-coming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/635169\/new-alcohol-laws-for-south-africa-are-coming\/","title":{"rendered":"New alcohol laws for South Africa are coming"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Information about alcohol abuse gathered during the Covid lockdown may prompt further changes to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/static.pmg.org.za\/160930liquor.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/static.pmg.org.za\/160930liquor.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1666157397008000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2gWQgScISbHPvoK7qb_fwX\">Liquor Amendment Bill<\/a>, says the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. The Bill has been on hold since 2018.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"m_6104965368314868080gu_counter\" class=\"CToWUd\" src=\"https:\/\/ci5.googleusercontent.com\/proxy\/5vtU1ZFtjpI5E4ggNHSvwh8clZ9Xzd6zuQTrBH7jCOKtgXgroFWy0ijLD-_fg2S5bYCj_1HZoQUGSaH73h7x11FkI8mNz1XNvvmQFRksNf9cS9n876OeIGeIXCioWmWSdJoBHNmMQsbV8wumimOyWxJ6MpAuUBGulMI=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/republish.groundup.org.za\/counter\/hit\/12164\/liquor-amendment-bill-might-be-further-toughened-up\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" data-bit=\"iit\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Bill seeks to amend the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.za\/sites\/default\/files\/gcis_document\/201409\/a59-03.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.gov.za\/sites\/default\/files\/gcis_document\/201409\/a59-03.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1666157397008000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0OlqCauxU_yb--DqA2uSLF\">National Liquor Act<\/a>\u00a0of 2003, by tightening alcohol restrictions and advertising and regulating where alcohol is sold.<\/p>\n<p>Spokesperson Bongani Lukhele said the Bill was under review by the department.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDuring the Covid-19 pandemic, it became more apparent that the problem of liquor abuse is quite huge in South Africa and requires more concerted measures, and that the Bill may not address the scale of the problem as the problem requires a concerted effort in government,\u201d said Lukhele.<\/p>\n<p>He said <strong>the department would reintroduce the bill to Parliament<\/strong>. Lukhele said as well as legislation to address liquor use, there was a need for health, education and behaviour issues to be addressed as well.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cProvincial laws must also be reviewed as it impacts directly on the retail trade,\u201d Lukhele added.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, lobby groups are growing impatient with delays in the implementation of the bill.<\/p>\n<p>Maurice Smithers, director of the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance in South Africa, said the Liquor Act had been reviewed in 2015 and found to be inadequate and inconsistent with the World Health Organisation\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/bitstream\/handle\/10665\/259232\/WHO-NMH-NVI-17.9-eng.pdf;jsessionid=6CD56FBAA1C068E1D3F494BF003AF954?sequence=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/apps.who.int\/iris\/bitstream\/handle\/10665\/259232\/WHO-NMH-NVI-17.9-eng.pdf;jsessionid%3D6CD56FBAA1C068E1D3F494BF003AF954?sequence%3D1&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1666157397008000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2oiob9DxeOq0PidoZI852s\">Global Strategy<\/a>\u00a0to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.<\/p>\n<p>The Global Strategy suggests three priorities: reducing the availability of alcohol, increasing its cost, and limiting or banning marketing.<\/p>\n<p>As a result, changes were proposed in the Liquor Bill, drafted in 2016, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Restricting advertising of alcohol on public platforms;<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Increasing the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 years;<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Regulating specific trading days and hours for alcohol to be distributed and manufactured; and<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\">Placing liability on alcohol retailers and manufacturers for harm related to the contravention of regulations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The amendments also propose banning alcohol advertising on radio and television at certain times and on billboards less than 100 metres away from junctions, street corners and traffic circles.<\/p>\n<p>The bill was approved by Cabinet for public comment in 2016.<\/p>\n<p>Smithers told GroundUp that the socio-economic and health problems associated with alcohol would worsen over time if the Bill and other legislation were not passed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe overall cost to society of such harm will continue to burden the state and divert resources from other delivery areas. Some specific consequences are that petrol stations are now applying for licences, something they would not be able to do if the bill were passed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe current proposals in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.parliament.gov.za\/storage\/app\/media\/Bills\/2022\/B2_2022_Basic_Education_Laws_Amendment_Bill\/B2_2022_Basic_Education_Laws_Amendment_Bill.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.parliament.gov.za\/storage\/app\/media\/Bills\/2022\/B2_2022_Basic_Education_Laws_Amendment_Bill\/B2_2022_Basic_Education_Laws_Amendment_Bill.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1666157397008000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1hEaSi45m1qmnW5R1ooD_m\">Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, <\/a>which will allow schools to have alcohol at schools and at school functions off school premises for fund-raising purposes, would also not be allowed if the bill were passed,\u201d said Smithers.<\/p>\n<p>Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.za\/speeches\/basic-education-misrepresentation-amendments-basic-education-laws-amendment-bela-bill-15\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.gov.za\/speeches\/basic-education-misrepresentation-amendments-basic-education-laws-amendment-bela-bill-15&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1666157397008000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0-wmnwDuGwqDBkePgzL5EH\">has said<\/a>\u00a0the department supports zero tolerance of alcohol at schools, but schools do sell alcohol during fund-raising and do hire out halls for functions where alcohol is consumed. She said the clauses in the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act are intended only to regulate this.<\/p>\n<p>Onesisa Mtwa, innovation manager at the DG Murray Trust, told GroundUp that stronger regulations were necessary to address and reduce harmful patterns of consumption such as heavy and binge drinking.<\/p>\n<p>In its 2018\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/12zIvfUmnqTnx9ksy2tgyFo1Y-sSgpv0R\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/12zIvfUmnqTnx9ksy2tgyFo1Y-sSgpv0R\/view?usp%3Dsharing&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1666157397008000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3yiHAesJGqHxz3ZoXlbzUQ\">Global Survey on Alcohol and Health<\/a>, the WHO indicated that in 2016, South African drinkers over the age of 15 years consumed, on average, 64.6 grams of pure alcohol per day.<\/p>\n<p>The data further showed that South African drinkers over 15 years old consumed 29.9 litres of pure alcohol in a year \u2014the third highest consumption in Africa.<\/p>\n<p>Citing a 2017\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/genesis.imgix.net\/uploads\/downloads\/Genesis-Analytics-NEDLAC-Impact-of-amendments-to-Liquor-Act-Final-Report-31-October-2017.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/genesis.imgix.net\/uploads\/downloads\/Genesis-Analytics-NEDLAC-Impact-of-amendments-to-Liquor-Act-Final-Report-31-October-2017.pdf&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1666157397008000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2gKlyn0k15mmNNCzwTieyT\">impact study<\/a> by economics-based consulting firm Genesis Analytics, Mtwa said the Bill could reduce alcohol consumption by between 3.2% and 7.4%, which would, in turn, reduce public health costs by R1.9-billion per year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDespite the industry\u2019s claims that this Bill will destroy the industry,\u201d Mtwa said, the impact assessment suggested that South Africa\u2019s gross domestic product would drop by less than 1%.<\/p>\n<p>A\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.samj.org.za\/index.php\/samj\/article\/view\/13345\/9849\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=http:\/\/www.samj.org.za\/index.php\/samj\/article\/view\/13345\/9849&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1666157397008000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3SGMLX13jmbI9vrb-xEqFU\">study<\/a>\u00a0by the University of Cape Town and the Medical Research Council found that alcohol bans during Covid were strongly associated with a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.groundup.org.za\/article\/alcohol-bans-reduced-deaths-study-finds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.groundup.org.za\/article\/alcohol-bans-reduced-deaths-study-finds\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1666157397008000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3WOckBk0n6BUJGKI8VssPC\">large drop in unnatural deaths<\/a>\u00a0(murders, vehicle collisions, suicides and accidents).<\/p>\n<p>Researchers looked at death data during alcohol restrictions and curfews under the national lockdown from the end of December 2019 to late April 2021. The drop in unnatural deaths associated with a full alcohol ban ranged from 42 deaths per day under a curfew of 4 to 7 hours to 74 per day under hard lockdown.<\/p>\n<p>Mtwa said implementing the bill would need \u201cextensive\u201d national and provincial cooperation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome areas of regulation, such as retail sales and liquor licences, lie with provinces, while liability issues, manufacturers and the drinking age would be regulated by the national government. This highlights the need for a whole-of-government approach to reducing alcohol-related harm,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n<p>Smithers said although the bill is not a silver bullet, it would send a signal to society that the government is serious about addressing the issue of alcohol-related harm.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not a perfect bill, and it won\u2019t result in a perfect act, but it is a step in the right direction,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>This article was originally published by GroundUp &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.groundup.org.za\/article\/liquor-amendment-bill-might-be-further-toughened-up\/\">you can read the original here<\/a>.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Read: <a href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/620675\/proposed-changes-for-how-alcohol-is-taxed-in-south-africa\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Proposed changes for how alcohol is taxed in South Africa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Information about alcohol abuse gathered during the Covid lockdown may prompt further changes to the\u00a0Liquor Amendment Bill, says the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. The Bill has been on hold since 2018.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":615795,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[26],"class_list":["post-635169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-government","tag-headline"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/68"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=635169"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":635179,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635169\/revisions\/635179"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/615795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=635169"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=635169"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=635169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}