The National Liquor Traders Council rejects alcohol advert ban. Image: Pixabay
(The Post News)– The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) expressed support for the introduction of the Liquor Amendment Bill, highlighting its potential impact on the sector.
Last week, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) tabled the Liquor Amendment Bill in Parliament. Introduced by Commissar Veronica Mente, MP, the Bill seeks to ban alcohol advertising, promotion, product placement, and sponsorships, highlighting how alcohol consumption has become a hazard in the society.
The EFF argues that prioritizing public health and social stability must take precedence over liquor corporations’ profits. The party highlighted how alcohol marketing often uses bright, attractive campaigns targeting children, associating alcohol with sport, success, and leisure while ignoring the devastating social consequences of abuse.
Cosatu Says Domestic Violence is Caused by Alcohol Consumption
Cosatu believes that road fatalities and domestic violence incidents were linked to excessive consumption of alcohol. “It is estimated that 40% of the more than 14 000 road accident fatalities annually are due to the excessive consumption of alcohol. Many incidents of violent crimes, including domestic and gender-based violence, are linked to the abuse of alcohol. It is invariably workers and their families who bear the brunt of these tragedies,” the federation said in a statement.
The federation said that the country cannot afford to normalise a unhealthy relationship with alcohol with thousands dying prematurely, families losing loved ones and bread winners, and the state expected to foot the bill. According to Cosatu, the Bill raises the importance of restricting advertising alcohol to help reduce its attraction to consumers, in particular young people. Meanwhile, South Africa has one of the highest alcohol consumption rates in Africa, according to EFF.
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