Change drinking habits, SA
SA needs more campaigns encouraging responsible drinking as we have a bad relationship with alcohol that has become a concern.
Just a few days after the ban on alcohol sales was lifted, three metro police officers died in a head-on collision with the car of a man while chasing a suspected drunk driver. Tshwane metro police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba said the accident occurred around 2am on Sunday after the officers spotted a vehicle driving recklessly and facing oncoming traffic on the N4. “The officers tried to stop the vehicle, which was driving to the westerly direction, but it fled and officers gave chase.”
There were also reports that hospital emergency rooms were busier after the lifting of the ban, due to cases of stabbings and other violent attacks linked to alcohol. Transport minister Fikile Mbalula also announced this week that motorists would soon be prohibited from drinking any amount of alcohol. He said the Road Traffic Amendment Bill that comes with a 0% alcohol rate for drivers was taken to parliament in June.
These are commendable plans by the government in a bid to enforce responsible drinking, as a total ban on liquor beyond the lockdown would be impossible because it would infringe on people’s rights and can be seen as government dictating to then populace how to live their lives. Meanwhile, we need an increase in police officers on our roads, especially during weekends, to ensure offenders are apprehended and charged.
If there are roadblocks on all major roads, people will start a new culture of drinking at home and the rate of drunk driving will drop. People are scared of having criminal records because that would affect them in future. So police just have to go all out in enforcing the law.
SA comes out among the leaders in the yearly surveys of heavy drinkers. It is a dubious accolade we should take no pride in and liquor companies need to come up with more campaigns highlighting the dangers of excessive drinking. Drinkers also need to reflect on how they imbibe. We have to drink responsibly and show self-discipline. Alcoholic drinks are meant for leisure, not to be consumed excessively. Let us behave and drink indoors.