Minimum Alcohol Pricing Debate Intensifies as Health Experts Clash With Industry
Health
Aug 10, 2025
Health Experts Sound Alarm as Cheap, Bulk Alcohol Floods Townships
By GlobalZa
Health advocates accuse brewers of targeting low-income communities with cheap, high-volume alcohol as government considers strict new pricing controls.
The Problem in Plain Sight
Walk into any township tavern and you'll see them—giant 5-liter beer containers selling for less than bottled water. It's not a bargain; it's a public health crisis in the making.
Dr. David Harrison of the DG Murray Trust pulls no punches: "The alcohol industry has turned heavy drinking into a business model. They're not selling refreshment—they're selling intoxication by the liter."
How Pricing Tricks Drive Harm
The math tells a disturbing story:
- A standard 750ml beer costs R12
- A 5-liter jug goes for just R45
"The message is clear," Harrison explains. "Buy bigger, drink more—it's that simple. And in poor communities, where every rand counts, this isn't choice—it's exploitation."
The Human Cost
The fallout hits emergency rooms nightly:
- Alcohol fuels nearly half of all trauma cases
- Violence peaks in the deadly hours between midnight and 4am
"We're not talking about someone enjoying a beer after work," Harrison stresses. "This is about bottles designed to get entire groups drunk cheaply. The blood in our hospitals shows it's working."
What Needs to Change
Harrison prescribes tough medicine:
- Ban bulk discounts - No more 5-liter "specials"
- Cut late-night sales - Shut taps by midnight
- Stop youth targeting - End influencer marketing
"The industry cries 'nanny state'," he counters. "But when children grow up with alcohol-fueled violence as normal, someone needs to step in."
The Bottom Line
This isn't about taking away beer—it's about taking back communities from an industry that profits when people lose control. As Harrison puts it: "Real responsibility starts with not pushing products you know will destroy lives."
Why This Matters
- Alcohol causes 50% of murders and GBV cases
- Poor communities suffer 5x more alcohol-related deaths
- Solutions exist—but face fierce industry resistance
What's Next?
Parliament will debate new liquor laws in October. Health advocates vow this time, profits won't trump people.