Bay boozers boost economy, but alcohol causing serious harm

NELSON Mandela Bay residents are the biggest boozers in the province, with a massive 28% of all alcohol sales in the Eastern Cape made in the metro.

While this has some positive economic consequences, it also comes at a cost to the welfare of many who abuse alcohol.

A Liquor Board-commissioned study on the socio-economic impact of the liquor industry on the provincial economy was released by the Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB).

ELCB chief executive Khanyile Maneli said the industry faced growing scrutiny by the public as it was often associated with social ills linked to excessive alcohol consumption and inconsiderate trading.

It was important, however, to recognise the positive socio-economic spinoffs. “Nelson Mandela Bay [NMB] accounts for the greatest proportion of provincial expenditure on alcoholic beverages at approximately 28%,” he said.

“While the proportion of the provincial population residing in NMB and Buffalo City municipality is 18% and 12% respectively, it should be noted that the relative . . . disposable income in both these municipalities is 31% and 17% [of the provincial total] respectively, and therefore the expenditure on alcohol is aligned with the available disposable income.”

Maneli said the Eastern Cape was the fourth-largest contributor (about 8%) to the total national liquor industry.

“There are about 23 620 direct and indirect jobs attributable to the Eastern Cape liquor industry annually,” he said.

“NMB accounts for the greatest proportion of provincial employment in the East-

ern Cape.” The Eastern Cape liquor industry paid about R1.7-billion in taxes.

Maneli warned that foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) was an ongoing problem as women continued to drink while pregnant. But there was no data showing the extent of the problem in the province.

“To address this gap, in collaboration with South African Breweries, we are conducting a pilot study in Bethelsdorp [in the Bay’s northern areas] ... focusing on the prevalence, treatment and prevention of FAS,” Maneli said.

Zarina Ghulam, a director at the SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca) in Port Elizabeth, said yesterday she was aware there was a high number of drinkers and “alcoholics” in the Bay area.

“We certainly do have a large number of alcoholics and a great number of drug users. In fact, we have a large number of people who abuse both alcohol and drugs,” she said, adding that the youth was an important focus of anti-substance abuse programmes.

Ghulam said this led to a high number of babies born with FAS.

She said an average of up to four cases a week were reported, with the number at times even rising to eight a week. “This is a serious problem,” she said. Another problem was home-brewed alcohol “particularly because of the substances, such as battery acid, which are used to make these home brews”.

She said the survey results came in a week when Sanca was running an awareness and anti-substance-abuse campaign targeting vulnerable groups.