South Africans spent far more on booze over the festive season than on a normal day. On average the country spends about R400 million a day on alcohol, reports Cape {town} Etc.
eNCA reports that in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve that figure rose to more than R1 billion a day.
Kashifa Ancer of advocacy group Rethink Your Drink told EWN companies use aggressive marketing and bulk-buying deals to push people to buy more.
She said those offers lead some customers to drink more than they normally would.
Experts warn the short-term gain for retailers has a long tail. A major costing study found that alcohol-related harm accounted for an estimated 10 to 12 percent of South Africa’s 2009 gross domestic product (SciELO).
The study included both tangible and intangible costs such as hospital care and lost productivity.
Campaigners are urging stronger pricing and trading rules. They want tighter enforcement of existing laws and new measures to curb cheap, high-strength alcohol sales.
Rethink Your Drink says the aim is to protect communities and reduce predictable harms during holidays.
Police, health services and civil society will continue to call for action if festive sales keep rising. The debate now centres on how to balance economic activity with public safety and health.
Compiled by Angelica Rhoda
First published on Cape {town} etc
Also see: The best alcohol substitutes for festive cooking and baking
