The Rethink Your Drink campaign has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for stronger alcohol regulations in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday evening.

The President linked excessive alcohol use to child stunting, violence, crime, and road accidents, and proposed measures to address the scourge.

“We call on provincial governments to strengthen the regulation of alcohol by limiting the density of liquor outlets, restricting trading hours and ending the sale of alcohol in large containers. As national government, we have proposed measures to curb excessive alcohol use, including minimum unit pricing or higher excise duties and greater restrictions on alcohol advertising, which we are consulting on with stakeholders.”

Zimasa Mpemnyama, Project Lead for Rethink Your Drink, says the address sends a clear signal that alcohol-related harm is preventable and urges urgent progress on alcohol law reform.

“This is the clearest national signal we have heard in years that alcohol harm is not inevitable. If we reduce availability, lower affordability, and stop aggressive marketing, we can reduce violence, injuries, and long-term harm to children.”

Mpemnyama adds that the next step is for government to follow through on its commitment.

“What we do need now is follow through. We need urgent progress on alcohol reforms to further protect children and avoid preventable harm”