Comprehensive strategy needed to combat alcohol abuse

It is high time we had a serious conversation about the impact of irresponsible alcohol use in our communities. When President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his state of the nation address last month, directly addressing the social ills linked to alcohol abuse and illegal trading, it resonated deeply. While national pronouncements are a vital first step, the real heavy lifting, the “baggage” as it were, falls squarely on our shoulders — the community and local authorities — to truly regulate and mitigate alcohol’s adverse effects.

We see the consequences first hand, don’t we? The surge in violence, the tragic road accidents, the relentless wave of crime — all too often fuelled by excessive drinking. Then there is the sinister undercurrent of illicit alcohol trading, a dangerous game that poses huge health risks to unsuspecting individuals.

It is a crisis brewing right here on our doorstep, and we simply cannot afford to look away. The president’s call to action is clear — provincial governments must step up. This means strengthening regulations by limiting the concentration of liquor outlets, tightening trading hours and, crucially, ending the sale of alcohol in those large, often unregulated, containers that make excessive consumption all too easy.

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Furthermore, national consultations are under way for broader measures like minimum unit pricing, higher excise duties and stricter advertising rules, all designed to curb overconsumption. One stark statistic highlighted was the link between excessive alcohol consumption and child stunting. Consider this — more than a quarter of our children under five are stunted.

This isn’t just a number. It represents lives impacted, increasing their vulnerability to illness and, significantly, hindering their ability to learn and thrive. It’s a devastating reality for these children, their families and the fabric of our society as a whole.

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