Prohibition won’t solve South Africa’s alcohol problem
ALTHOUGH the alcohol ban was lifted at the beginning of the last month, with a pending legal battle between South African Breweries (SAB) and the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, it is possible that another ban will be swiftly implemented if circumstances require.
To have the desired outcome of reducing the number of alcoholrelated trauma cases occupying hospital beds needed for Covid-19 patients, it is advisable that the government continued to enforce curfew regulations while permitting alcohol sales under tightly controlled conditions.
Although it is undeniable that our health-care industry is under severe strain at present, the most recent alcohol ban was not as effective as the government had hoped. In the earlier total ban on liquor sales, trauma cases in hospitals dropped by as much as 60%, according to government statistics.
This time, however, people had sufficient warning to stock up both for personal consumption and for sale on the black market. It is clear that a further ban will only cause more harm, given that the government has lost almost R60 billion in tax from the liquor sector during the bans, and causing massive job losses.
What can be done to reduce the negative impact of alcohol on the health-care sector under such challenging circumstances?
Regardless of whether there’s a ban in place or not, South Africans continue to consume alcohol making it imperative to enforce stringent workplace and road-safety rules on alcohol consumption with mandatory breathalyser testing, along with maintaining a strict curfew.
This makes practical sense as it is more likely that accidents will occur when people are out and about or driving on roads while under the influence. With a curfew in place, people will drink at home, where they are less likely to get involved in accidents that cause harm to others and themselves, with a potential increase in gender-based violence.
A curfew is likely to be more effective than a blanket ban on liquor sales when it comes to keeping the number of alcohol-related traumas and fatalities down.
To prevent alcohol-related injuries in the workplace, health and safety regulations that apply in high-risk industries like mining and construction will need to be closely adhered to. This means businesses must have clear policies on intoxication that are enforced with regular, compulsory alcohol testing before entry is permitted to the workplace. Knowing that they face a breathalyser test before and after every shift can be enough of a deterrent to prevent workers from consuming alcohol.
Outside of the workplace, traffic police will need to increase the frequency of breathalyser roadblocks around times of curfew (currently 11pm-4am) to deter road users from drinking and driving. This, along with compulsory intoxication screening immediately after an accident can be an effective deterrent.
Without breathalysers to test for the presence of alcohol at roadblocks or in the workplace, enforcing the law would be almost impossible.
To alleviate concerns of viral transmission (given that the Covid-19 virus is spread through respiratory droplets), it is important to update breathalyser test protocols to cater for the need of enhanced personal protection equipment requirements.
The operator will require additional safety goggles, gloves and a face mask.
Physical distancing requirements can be met with housing apparatus for the breathalyser device that is designed to be either wall-mounted outside the workplace or on a tripod at roadblocks.
The use of disposable paper straws will help protect the test subject and minimise the spread of airborne virus particles, assuring safety while enforcing the country’s laws on alcohol consumption.
South Africa’s alcohol problem is deep-rooted and will need to be addressed through measures more effective than a prohibition. Much has been written in the media about how this can be achieved in the long term.
For now, all we can do is enforce current laws more strictly by means of breathalyser testing, maintaining curfews, limiting the sale of alcohol and visible policing until we are in a better position to give this predicament the attention it requires.