Cape Town, 9 April 2025 –The South African Alcohol Policy Alliance in South Africa (SAAPA-SA) has welcomed the Eastern Cape Education Department’s commitment and bold steps to ban all alcohol on school premises, even at private and after hours fundraising events, which reflects the sentiments of South Africans when they rejected the inclusion of such a provision in the BELA Bill. It also reflects the recommendations of the South African Human Rights Commission report into the Enyobeni tragedy, in which 21 children and young people lost their lives.
“Finally, we have a government department, together with the Liquor Board in the Eastern Cape, that is taking this matter seriously,” said the Secretary General of SAAPA-SA. “We need all provinces on board and help us stop normalising alcohol sales at schools.”
SAAPA-SA is an organisation committed to promoting public health and the well-being of young people. As a country, we need to rethink alcohol consumption at sporting and cultural events that involve the participation of minors. We believe that alcohol consumption in such settings can have several detrimental effects, including but not limited to:
- Normalisation of Alcohol Consumption: Allowing alcohol at an event attended by minors may lead to the normalisation of drinking among young people. This can send a harmful message that alcohol consumption is a typical part of social and sporting environments, which can lead to peer pressure and contribute to underage drinking.
- Indirect Advertising of Alcohol to Minors: The presence of alcohol at sporting and cultural events may be perceived as an indirect form of advertising to minors, which could influence their attitudes toward alcohol consumption and perpetuate existing harmful social drinking norms.
- Negative Impact on Sporting Talent: Exposure to alcohol in a sporting context could have a detrimental effect on young athletes, impacting both their physical and mental health, as well as their long-term potential in sports.
“Generating revenue for schools through the selling of alcohol at fundraising events is not the answer, and we urge school governing bodies to partner with parents and the private sector to find other funding solutions,” said Mrs Diedericks. “Parents and the general community need to support the Education Department with this shift to de-normalise alcohol in schools.”
In the immediate aftermath of the Enyobeni tragedy, SAAPA SA submitted to the Presidency recommending a moratorium on liquor licenses and a national audit of liquor outlets to influence future decision making. International evidence documents that increased availability of alcohol, especially in residential areas, leads to increased consumption and consequent harm.
ENDS
For media inquiries, please contact: Mr. Julian Jacobs, SAAPA-SA, +2761917 9661
Information on SAAPA-SA:
The South African Alcohol Policy Alliance South Africa (SAAPA SA) is a collective of over 100 non-governmental and community-based organisations, and public health researchers across the country are lobbying for evidence-based alcohol policies and legislation.