KEY DATES IN SOUTH AFRICA’S ALCOHOL ABUSE JOURNEY

1652. Dutch settle in South Africa, bringing spirits to trade for cattle, slaves and other items and establishing the first wine farms in sub-Saharan Africa

1833. British Slavery Abolition Act leads to the entrenchment of the “dop” system.

1928. South African Liquor Act allows state to co-opt beer production and distribution.

2003. Adoption of the Liquor Act of 2003, SA’s first post-apartheid liquor legislation, which does not adequately regulate alcohol consumption.

2013. Draft Control of Marketing of Alcoholic Beverages Bill approved for publication for public comments, but not subsequently gazetted. It did not progress further. This is a missed opportunity to change the social culture related to binge and heavy drinking.

2015. New draft Liquor Policy published after a review of the 2003 Act. A new National Liquor Policy was approved by Parliament in 2016, leading to the drafting of a new Liquor Amendment Bill.

2016. Draft Liquor Amendment Bill (DLAB) gazetted for public comments. It seeks to amend the Liquor Act of 2003 to restrict advertising, raise the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 and impose potential liability on manufacturers and distributors for harm arising from supply of liquor to unlicensed retailers. The Bill has not progressed through the legislative process.

2017. An altered version of the DLAB is circulated, but not made publicly available.

2020. A complete ban on alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic sees a significant reduction in trauma cases in hospitals. The evidence is highlighted by civil society and public health institutions, but there is no action on improving regulations.

2022. Report of the Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour, tabled in the National Council of Provinces on 18 May 2022, says the legislation relating to the DLAB is “under review”. There has been no further indication of progress since.