When Will Alcohol Be Sold Again?
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Why Was Alcohol Banned in South Africa?
The ban on alcohol sales in South Africa was implemented to curb high-risk drinking, violence, and related accidents. However, even though the ban was not a long-term solution to these problems, it was considered a necessary step to protect the health of the population. South Africa’s alcohol ban started in the 1980s, and most of the countries that followed the same policy were implementing it because of rising alcohol-related problems. The alcohol ban was first implemented in a small number of countries in Oceania and Africa. The World Health Organization and other health groups, such as the American Public Health Association, specifically promoted the reduction of alcohol consumption as a way to lower the risk of death and diseases.
What Is South Africa’s Plan to Bring Back Alcohol Sales?
South Africa’s government has been planning to bring back alcohol sales in the country since the end of April 2018. The current plan is to allow the sale of wine, beer, and cider for the aged 18 and above. The current plan is based on a recommendation made before the end of April when the government was considering the proposal to re-introduce alcohol sales again. If the current plan is implemented, the sale of wine will be allowed again to people in their 20s, and beer and cider for people in their 30s. There will also be a ban on the sale of liquor to people under 18 years old. With an aging population, South Africa has started to see a decrease in people’s drinking habits. In 2016, 9% of the residents reported they had consumed alcohol in the past 30 days compared to 13% in 2015.
What Effect Will Re-introducing Alcohol Sales Have?
The effect of re-introducing alcohol sales will depend on how the government implements the policy. If the current plan is implemented, re-introducing alcohol sales will have the following effects: – Higher taxes will be collected on alcohol sales. The proposal is to impose a flat rate of R6 tax per liter of alcohol sold in all shops, including supermarkets, liquor stores, and wine merchants. The tax was previously R3.86 per liter, which was increased by R3.84 in May 2018. – A rise in alcohol-related deaths will lead the government to lift the ban again. The current plan is to lift the ban after one year, but the government will have to take into account the current situation and the effect re-introducing alcohol sales will have on the country before making a final decision. – An increase in social problems, such as domestic violence and family break-ups, will occur with the re-introduction of alcohol sales. – The revenue collected from alcohol sales will not be as high as expected. In 2016, the revenue from the sale of alcohol was only R8 billion. If the plan is to re-introduce alcohol sales to people in their 30s, the revenue will only be R3 billion. The government is expected to collect more taxes from the sale of tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverages, which will affect how much revenue it receives from alcohol sales.
Government Proposal for Re-introducing Alcohol Sales
If the current plan is implemented, the government will not have a monopoly on the sale of liquor in the country. In June 2018, the proposal was submitted to allow the sale of alcohol again to people in their 30s, while prohibiting the sale of alcohol to people under 18 years old. At the time of this writing, the proposal is under consideration by the cabinet, and the announcement of their decision will be made shortly.
Summary
South Africa is currently researching ways to re-introduce the sale of wine, beer, and cider again. The current plan is based on a recommendation made before the end of April when the government was considering the proposal to re-introduce alcohol sales again. If the current plan is implemented, the sale of wine will be allowed again to people in their 20s, and beer and cider for people in their 30s. There will also be a ban on the sale of liquor to people under 18 years old. With an aging population, South Africa has started to see a decrease in people’s drinking habits. In 2016, 9% of the residents reported they had consumed alcohol in the past 30 days compared to 13% in 2015. The effect of re-introducing alcohol sales will depend on how the government implements the policy.
If the current plan is implemented, re-introducing alcohol sales will have the following effects:
– Higher taxes will be collected on alcohol sales. The proposal is to impose a flat rate of R6 tax per liter of alcohol sold in all shops, including supermarkets, liquor stores, and wine merchants. The tax was previously R3.86 per liter, which was increased by R3.84 in May 2018.
– A rise in alcohol-related deaths will lead the government to lift the ban again. The current plan is to lift the ban after one year, but the government will have to take into account the current situation and the effect re-introducing alcohol sales will have on the country before making a final decision. – An increase in social problems, such as domestic violence and family break-ups, will occur with the re-introduction of alcohol sales.
– The revenue collected from alcohol sales will not be as high as expected. In 2016, the revenue from the sale of alcohol was only R8 billion. If the plan is to re-introduce alcohol sales to people in their 30s, the revenue will only be R3 billion. The government is expected to collect more taxes from the sale of tobacco and sugar-sweetened beverages, which will affect how much revenue it receives from alcohol sales.