Trust calls for greater restrictions on alcohol sales and advertising
Binge drinking and heavy consumption of alcohol leads to increased harm in society.
DG Murray Trust representative Kashifa Ancer is advocating for stricter controls on alcohol sales and advertising. She argues that such measures are necessary to curb binge drinking and excessive consumption of alcohol, which she claims contribute to widespread societal harm. Ancer maintains that the illicit alcohol trade is the primary catalyst for rising alcohol consumption rates, leading to numerous social issues.
Her remarks come as the National Treasury begins public consultations to review the current alcohol taxation framework. Speaking to the media during a briefing in Johannesburg, Ancer emphasized that the economic ramifications of alcohol-related harm far outweigh any potential benefits from reducing sales restrictions. "Our focus is on mitigating the harm caused by heavy and binge drinking," she explains.
"This is where the majority of trauma cases in our hospitals stem from, where one in every eleven children in South Africa suffers from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and where a significant portion of homicides, femicides, and sexual assaults occur."
Ancer highlights that the overconsumption of alcohol is linked to 55% of trauma cases in hospitals, 63.5% of murders that happen between midnight and 4 a.m., 60% of femicides, and 40% of rapes. She stresses that addressing these issues requires a concerted effort to limit the negative impacts of excessive alcohol intake.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
