Millions of children globally suffer as a consequence of the use of intoxicating substances like alcohol and illicit drugs. This is an important, but too often neglected, child rights issue. The new FORUT publication “Childhood matters” describes this problem and suggests action to be taken to protect children’s health and well-being. The link address is: …

The introduction of International Beer Day is a serious cause for concern. SAAPA asks how we as a society can sit back and allow this to continue. Amidst all the public holidays commemorating fallen heroes, highlighting epidemics, raising awareness of social and health issues – suddenly pops up international beer day. Full page articles advertise …

SAAPA’s response to Business Day article, ‘Curbing the wild use of alcohol’. The article provides the facts and looks at illegal liquor outlets. Morar’s article “curbing the wild abuse of alcohol” (Business Day, 23 July, 2015) really made me think. What do we value in South Africa? The right to sell products that kills, maime …

Meshan Morar analyses the new proposed liquor policy. This article was written for and published by Business Day. Picture: Sowetan Read more…

Tertiary students and their drinking patterns are a serious cause for concern. Soul City’s Raashied Galant talks about lessons to be learnt and the dangers of binge drinking. This article was originally published in The New Age. soulcity.org.za Read more…

WE LIVE in a world where business opportunities often lie in increasing sales of products that cause harm. This article was written by Savera Kalideen, former SAAPA Chairperson and Senior Manager for Advocacy at Soul City. It was originally published on Business Day. The Times Breweries are queueing up to take advantage of the “great …

The Minister of Trade and Industry in South Africa recently announced proposed new alcohol legislation which has the industry in a furore. Amid acusations of being a South Africa being a nanny state, SAAPA Chairperson Mphonyane Mofokeng asks ‘If the state doesn’t do it, who will? This article was written for and published in the …

“The industry wants Africans to carry the cost of harm caused by alcohol while they take the profits”. As we celebrate Africa Day, Tungamirai Zimonte highlights a new form of exploitation of Africa by the global alcohol industry. Africa Day provides an opportunity for us Africans at home and those in the diaspora to celebrate …

The Department of Trade and Industry will soon issue new alcohol regulations for public comment to kick start the process of implementing uniform regulations across the country. This emerged at a well-attended panel discussion on the National Liquor Norms and Standards hosted by Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication on Wednesday. National Liquor …

Integrating policies to reduce harmful drinking, gender-based violence and hiv/aids will give better results on all three areas compared to addressing them in isolation. This came out of the conference in Oslo the 5th of May. The Oslo meeting was co-hosted by WHO, UNDP, FORUT and the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services. This …