Why now after all these years?!
The Health department is drafting a bill regarding alcohol advertising in South Africa. The spokesperson of the Department of Health Fidel Hadebe said that the Control of Marketing of Alcoholic Beverages Bill will go through various stages of consultation before it is released for public comment, this in turn will prohibit the advertising and promotion of alcohol products. The government task team is now reworking the bill behind closed doors.
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| The banning of alcohol adverts-a serious issue. Source:knowledgebase-script.com |
The drafting of this legislation to curb advertisements and marketing of alcohol comes after the health ministry sees alcohol as a contributing factor to highway deaths and a murder rate that is one of the highest in the world outside of a war zone.
This is a downturn for media companies as it raises a concern of a loss of revenueof as much as R1.8 million a year. The study, based on interviews by Moerdyk with media houses, found that:
- The ban would cost the SABC about R400-million;
- DStv and e.tv would lose R500-million;
- Radio, lifestyle magazinesand newspapers would lose R900-million;
- A "conservative" estimate was that about 2500 jobs would be lost, depriving about 30000 people of an income;
- Loss in VAT of about R280-million
- The ban would lead to a short-term drop in branded liquor consumption of 5% to 8%
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| A caution image against alcohol. Source:m-a-d-d.wikispaces.com |
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| Youngsters enjoying a sip. Source: trendgeeks.com |
But the question in my mind and I think on everybody's mind is that, why now after so many years? and will this bring about the change they are expecting in our roads and what about the prohibition of persons under the age of 18 who are allowed to consume alcohol without the concern of legislature? Lets debate people shall we...
