The government has launched an anti-alcohol and substance abuse campaign, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini said on Wednesday.
“The phenomenon of alcohol and substance abuse has dire implications to millions of South Africans as it contributes towards many ills such as crime, gangsterism, domestic violence and other forms of social problems,” Dlamini said in a statement.
“Collective national action” was required to deal with the problem.
The government had developed a five-year programme of action including reviewing policies and liquor legislation. It would educate and create awareness on substance abuse, while reviewing “institutional mechanisms” to prevent and manage alcohol and drug use in the country.
“We have to implement measures that will reduce exposure of young people and the general population to advertising that falsely portrays carefully packaged ethanol as a product that is associated with being cool and successful.
“It is possible to have fun without alcohol.”
The government would have to ensure it raised the price of alcohol and limited the number of liquor outlets.
The legal drinking age would have to be raised and drunk driving more harshly dealt with.
“We must never allow alcohol and substance abuse as well as illicit drug trafficking to threaten the stability of our country.” - Sapa