Alcohol sales in South Africa normally total around R400 million a day, but the festive season sends that figure soaring, with spending spiking past R1-billion in the days before New Year’s Eve.
Kashifa Ancer from advocacy group Rethink Your Drink told eNCA that companies use aggressive advertising to push people to buy more alcohol.
She said bulk-buying deals also lead consumers to drink more than they normally would
The Hidden Economic Cost
Beyond the short-term economic gains for retailers, critics highlight the heavy public cost of related harm, from hospital admissions and road accidents to policing and healthcare.
Ancer warns that although alcohol sales seem to benefit the economy, they carry a steep price.
“An estimated 10 to 12 percent of South Africa’s GDP goes toward addressing alcohol-related harm, including hospital care, road accidents, policing, and other healthcare expenses,” Ancer says.
Calls grow for stronger alcohol regulations
Ancer mentioned that, the country is spending far too much dealing with alcohol-related harm each year
“South Africa simply cannot afford to lose this amount of money anymore,” Ancer says.
The group is urging authorities to enforce stronger pricing and trading regulations to reduce predictable harm during the festive season.
