Let’s have an honest conversation about the link between booze and GBV
Government and South African men both need to step up and address the link between alcohol abuse and gender-based violence in South Africa. The rate at which women are killed by intimate partners in South Africa is five times higher than the global average. Gender-based violence (GBV) is an indictment of our nation. The relationship between […]
Spotlight on youth alcohol abuse.
South Africa’s alcohol consumption culture has been in the spotlight since last year’s Enyobeni tavern tragedy in East London. It has awakened calls to amend the Liquor Bill. Mgwebi Msiya, EC Liquor Board Spokesperson and Nickolaus Bauer weigh in. Watch the full interview below.
One year on: Enyobeni tragedy highlights why stricter laws around alcohol are needed
Youth Day will likely see government once again commit to protect, preserve and promote the cause of young people in South Africa. But sadly, meaningful action to meet the annual rhetoric is largely absent in the public sector – particularly in the fight against alcohol harm among the country’s young people. Young people need jobs, […]
Play your part in preventing alcohol harm in South African society.
The Western Cape government has opened public comment on standardising the price of alcohol and limiting the time it can be legally sold. Minimum Unit Pricing & augmented liquor trading times are policies successfully implemented internationally to halt alcohol abuse. Have your say on this move to save lives while conserving the economy. Read up […]
Alcohol abuse can be linked to decreased productivity and criminal activity, among other issues, for South Africa’s workforce.
A study in the US has found that alcohol abuse can be linked to 232 million missed workdays annually. In SA, studies have found that the same problem among workers leads to decreased productivity and criminal activity among other issues, Nickolaus Bauer from DGMT joins Newzroom Afrika for more details. Watch the full interview below.
The impact of limiting trading hours for on-site alcohol consumption in the Western Cape
Pursuing the five best buys in curbing alcohol abuse advocated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), DGMT conducted research into increasing the price of alcohol through the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) and reducing the availability of alcohol by restricting liquor outlet trading hours. The research forecasts a marked reduction in alcohol consumption and […]
Modelling the impact of Minimum Unit Pricing policy in the Western Cape
Even though less than a third of South Africans consume alcohol, we are a nation of heavy drinkers. This is because more than half of those who drink are ‘binge drinkers’, defined as having more than five standard drinks in one sitting. In 2020, DGMT commissioned the UCT Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable […]
The international experience of Minimum Unit Pricing on alcohol
A Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) policy would impose a minimum retail price dependent upon the alcohol content of the drink. This increases the price of the cheapest alcohol, which is often preferred by the heaviest drinkers, making it a targeted tool for reducing alcohol-related harm. Crucially, it applies across all types of alcohol so that […]
Research into liquor retail trading days and hours restrictions to inform policy/legislative development in the Western Cape
One of DGMT’s core objectives is to support the development of policy and legislation that aims to curb binge and heavy drinking in vulnerable communities in South Africa. DGMT engaged the services of a legal consultant, Stephen Harrison Attorney, to conduct some aspects of this research. The research is intended to provide an evidence base […]
Health and economic impact of a minimum unit price on alcohol
From a health perspective, a minimum unit price (MUP) on alcohol is expected to reduce the morbidity and mortality impact of alcohol. The higher the MUP is set, the greater will be the health benefits from such a policy. For example, if the MUP is set at R8.00 per unit, modelling exercises indicate that, over […]
