Stricter alcohol laws might be coming to South Africa
Excessive alcohol abuse in South Africa might lead to stricter laws when it comes to alcohol consumption!
According to Business Tech, new alcohol laws are being reviewed by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition in order to tighten alcohol restrictions.
The new laws seek to amend the National Liquor Act of 2003.
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This comes after the department gathered information during the COVID-19 pandemic, which showed that South Africa is suffering a severe liquor abuse problem.
“During the Covid-19 pandemic, it became more apparent that the problem of liquor abuse is quite huge in South Africa and requires more concerted measures, and that the Bill may not address the scale of the problem as the problem requires a concerted effort in government,” said spokesperson Bongani Lukhele.
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In 2016, the department proposed changes to the Liquor Bill and will now reintroduce it to Parliament.
These changes include:
- Restricting advertising of alcohol on public platforms;
- Increasing the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 years;
- Regulating specific trading days and hours for alcohol to be distributed and manufactured; and
- Placing liability on alcohol retailers and manufacturers for harm related to the contravention of regulations.
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