The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) broadly welcomes the Liquor Amendment Bill’s tabling at Parliament.  The Federation has engaged extensively on this matter and the need to strengthen the Liquor Act at Nedlac.  We look forward to its processing at Parliament. 

The Bill speaks to the need for a progressive response to the crisis of alcohol abuse that is endemic across South Africa, particularly in working class and rural communities.  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.

There is space for a responsible liquor industry in society.  There are thousands of jobs in its value chain, from the vineyards of the Cape Winelands to distilleries, bottlers, packaging, distribution, retail and hospitality.  It generates significant revenue needed by the state to fund frontline public services that the poor depend upon.  The challenge is to find the correct balance.  What we cannot afford to do is to continue to normalise a very unhealthy relationship with alcohol with thousands dying prematurely, families losing loved ones and bread winners, and the state expected to foot the bill.

The Bill raises the importance of restricting advertising alcohol to help reduce its attraction to consumers, in particular young people.  This is a key mechanism to begin the journey of nudging society to a more balanced approach to the consumption of alcohol. 

The Federation welcomes the Bill’s objectives and looks forward to engaging Parliament as well as the Departments of Trade, Industry and Competition, Agriculture, Health and the Police on it.  We are confident that this Bill can help unlock such a long overdue discussion and that we can emerge with a package of legislative and other interventions to deal with one of society’s most dire socio-economic crises.

Issued by COSATU

Matthew Parks (COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator)

Mobile: 082 785 0687

Email: matthew@cosatu.org.za