WESTERN CAPE NEWS - The Western Cape Government has approved an Alcohol Harm Reduction Policy White Paper which will ensure strict measures on alcohol in the province.
The policy will ensure a tough approach to drunken driving, and includes the increased use of random breath testing (RBT) in traffic enforcement operations, clamping down on illicit shebeens, measures to combat underage drinking, and alcohol price hikes.
According to an article published by the Western Cape government website, the policy will guide the government's approach to the regulation of alcohol in the province and aspects of the policy will also result in proposed amendments to the Western Cape Liquor Act.
The paper also recommends increasing the price of alcohol through increasing excise tax or introducing minimum unit pricing, and a provincial tax will also be considered.
According to the website, "The World Health Organisation (WHO) ranks South Africa as the country with the highest per capita alcohol consumption in Africa.
Furthermore, alcohol risk contributes significantly to 4 of the 5 major components of the Western Cape Burden of Disease pattern.
A recently published report by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) - the South African Demographic and Health Survey 2016 - found that 22,8% of men and 9% of women drank five or more drinks on at least one occasion in the 30 days prior to the survey.
Known as 'binge drinking', this is one of the most harmful activities common in our society, particularly practiced by young people.
The White Paper is aimed at addressing the following:
Unlicensed liquor outlets and the illicit liquor trade
The policy proposes taking steps to bring responsible unlicensed liquor outlets into the regulated space in a sustainable and responsible manner.
Liquor enforcement units are to be capacitated and strengthened through increased resources. An integrated liquor enforcement approach is proposed to harness the full coordination power of the various enforcement authorities, including liquor inspectors, the police and the metro police.
Alcohol and the road environment
The White Paper proposes the increased use of random breath testing (RBT) in traffic enforcement operations. Mandatory blood samples should also be obtained as soon as possible from all those involved in road crashes.
These are some of the proposals aimed at ramping up prosecutions in drunk driving cases.
Health and social services
It is proposed that early screening and referral services be established at schools and other institutions of learning. This will assist in identifying the early signs of alcohol harm in learners.
It is also necessary to strengthen referral systems for members of the public to access services provided by the Departments of Health, Social Development, and NPOs.
Pricing and the economy
The importance of the alcohol industry, particularly in the Western Cape, is acknowledged. The economic contribution is however dwarfed by the costs of alcohol-related harms.
The policy proposes lobbying national government to increase the price of alcohol through increasing excise tax and/or introducing minimum unit pricing.
It further proposes lobbying for the tightening of definitions and regulations of ales and beer, incentivising the reduction of ethanol content in liquor, and implementing a tracking system for liquor products.
A provincial tax will also be considered due to the effectiveness of the tax mechanism.
Education and awareness
The Paper calls for the strengthening of the Western Cape Education Department's education and awareness interventions on alcohol harms.
After-school programmes are identified as an important lever in this regard.
ARTICLE: ZOLANI SINXO, IDINGA EDITOR, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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