02 Feb Is the demon drink over-demonised?
Turns out there may be a reason so much doom and gloom is being broadcast about there being 'no safe level' of drinking alcohol. Here's an excellent article by famed wine fundi, Jancis Robinson....
02 Feb Demon drink: the enjoyment vs risk
The science and narrative around alcohol is increasingly demonising one of mankind's most popular, and damaging, pleasures...
14 Jan Key takeaways in the new US alcohol-cancer guidelines
Many people use the new year to reflect on their relationship with alcohol. Just-released government guidelines are giving Americans another reason to consider a "dry January".....
03 Feb New SA law: 0% blood-alcohol limit for drivers
South Africa's strict new drunk driving laws may be in effect from as soon as June 2020, including a zero-tolerance 0% legal blood-alcohol limit, and far harsher punishments for those found guilty.
28 May Calls for alcohol minimum unit price in SA
With one of the world’s highest alcohol consumption levels, South Africa rivals countries around the world known for their drinking. This prompted the Western Cape Government into commissioning research into new ways to curb binge drinking.
28 May Why the plan to raise SA’s drinking age to 21 is wrong
Banning alcohol for 18-21-year-olds is irrational because their inebriation induces no more than a tiny fraction of all violent crimes and road accidents, argues the irrepressible Leon Louw of the Free Market Foundation.
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13 Aug OP-ED: Justifications for SA’s draft liquor bill are hard to swallow
South Africa’s draft liquor bill seeks to impose maximum discomfort on the liquor industry seemingly on the grounds that since liquor is evil, any attack on its producers and distributors is morally justifiable. Few, if any, of the proposals are practical, writes Michael Fridjohn, well-known...
10 Dec COMMENT: Taxing sugar, not alcohol, will lead to a healthier way of life
In mid-November the Treasury hosted a workshop aimed at engaging with stakeholders on the subject of alcohol excise. From the first session it was clear the purpose of the event was to excoriate the demon drink as a prelude to justifying more onerous taxes on...
28 Nov Six lessons eight decades after Prohibition
December 5, 2013, marks the 80th anniversary of the ratification of the 21st Amendment which ended Prohibition in the US — though beer got a bit of a jump on wine and spirits in April of 1933. And in the eight decades that have followed...
28 Oct Alcohol ad ban: Motsoaledi adamant again, industry aghast again
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has reiterated that there will be a cap on alcohol advertising in one form or another.
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15 Aug Booze ad ban is on track, asserts Motsoaledi
The proposed SA ban on alcohol advertising has been approved by an inter-ministerial committee on substance abuse, prompting Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, to assert that this is one step further on the way to fulfilling his promises on booze marketing.
...12 Jun Little to cheer in government’s plan to ban alcohol advertising
Government’s plan to ban alcohol advertising, sponsorship and promotion is back in the news this week, with consultancy Econometrix reporting it will cost the economy almost 12 000 jobs and cut R7.4bn from South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP).
...15 May Gauteng drops ludicrous proposal on Sunday alcohol ban
Sanity has prevailed...
04 Apr Bill imminent on alcohol ad restrictions
A Bill restricting alcohol advertising is likely to be presented to Cabinet next week, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi announced on Tuesday night.
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21 Mar More tough talk from health minister on liquor advertising and consumption
Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has, of late, used a number of public forums to reiterate that the liquor industry had best beware. Liquor advertising and upping the legal drinking age are in his sights.
...19 Mar Fears that Cape Town liquor laws will ‘fuel illegal trade’
Cape Town’s contentious by-law banning liquor sales on Sundays and after 6pm on weekdays will come into effect at the end of this month amid concerns that the ban will do little to curb alcohol abuse, but will fuel the illegal trade in liquor and...
21 Jun Waging war on the liquor industry
A war on alcohol abuse has been declared by government. It is a laudable objective, say liquor industry players, but warn that the high-handed approach, in the form of the leaked proposed new National Liquor Act, is threatening to seriously damage an industry that directly...