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 Products (REEP) department to conduct a study that would support the implementation of a Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) policy in South Africa. This report has set out to demonstrate the potential impact of MUP policy on alcohol consumption and harm in the Western Cape. The modelling suggests that MUP would reduce consumption and alcohol-related harm, particularly amongst the heaviest drinkers and the poorest groups. The higher the threshold of the MUP, the greater the decrease in consumption and consequent health impacts.
Read the report here or by clicking on the cover image.
