Regulation of marketing and sale of alcohol needed to protect public health and youth in particular

In an article published in news24.com the President of the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA), Mphonyane Mofokeng, applauds the recent proposal by the South African government to tighten regulations of the alcohol trade. New measures to that respect were presented by South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, some weeks back.

Read the full article here.

The SAAPA President makes reference to the WHO Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol which recommends regulating the marketing, availability, accessibility and pricing of alcohol to reduce the negative impact of alcohol on people.

“The direct and indirect cost to government of alcohol-related harm has been established through research commissioned by the department – an estimated R38 billion annually according to the SA Medical Research Council. Proposed regulations seek to reduce the burden on government and taxpayers. They also acknowledge that the industry cannot regulate itself – neither in marketing nor in the supply chain of alcohol products”.

“Africa faces an onslaught from global liquor companies”, writes SAAPA President Mofokeng. “From a public health perspective, the proposed regulations aim to protect our youth. Young people may not like it. Alcohol outlets may not like it.

But for how long should we sit back as a society and not act because people may not like it? The big question posed by the new regulations is how we prevent deaths and injury due to alcohol-related road accidents, as well as interpersonal and domestic violence inside and outside premises or homes after excessive drinking?”

The picture shows SAAPA President Mphonyane Mofokeng speaking at a regional alcohol policy forum in Botswana.