Yes, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies introduced the National Liquor Amendment Bill of 2016 at a media conference, recently. The bill was approved by Cabinet for wider public consultation.
By the way, the public has 45 days to respond to the government’s attention, but, to find a why to respond might, in the meantime, drive you to liquor (seriously, how do you respond?).
And why this sudden move, you may ask. Well, apparently, alcohol abuse is increasing in South Africa, with five billion litres consumed per year.
Makes you think we could rather be saving that money to help to educate our youth. Just saying.
On average, South Africans consume between 10 and 12.4 litres of alcohol a person a year. The global average is 6.2 litres. We are, therefore, a very thirsty nation.
He also referred to the high incidence of foetal alcohol syndrome and the fact that 41.6 per cent of all treated injuries in hospitals were associated with alcohol use.
Yes, drinking is a significant problem in South Africa, we can all agree on that (shall we cheers on it?), but raising the limit will not detract those who are over 21 from abusing alcohol and causing foetal alcohol syndrome, accidents on the road or domestic violence.
By the way, where alcohol is involved when it comes to domestic violence, if the culprit is the husband or the father, then this person is way over 21 years of age,.
Apparently the government is also hoping to cut down on the number of alcohol-induced accidents, but again, the question is: how many accidents are caused by intoxicated young adults between the ages of 18 and 21?
It seems, in countries where the legal drinking age had been raised, the number of accidents involving young people decreased.
There was a physiological argument behind the proposal: studies indicate that people’s brains continue developing until their mid-20s, therefore alcohol’s effect on brain development is worse among younger people.
If you look at our youth burning down universities there doesn’t seem to be much growth, so what damage will alcohol now really cause?
Personally, I do not believe this matter can be properly policed. If the young adult wants a drink, he will get a drink. Who is going to police all the parties where booze has been bought legally?
The saying goes, where there is a will, there is a way, and surely young adults are thirsty and innovative enough to find a way.
I also have a more viable solution to stop alcohol abuse – and that is to cap the age at which you are allowed to drink.
Yes, that is my answer.
I say let the age then be 21 when you are allowed to start drinking, but let it be capped at 35 years. That gives you 14 years of drinking, partying, being stupid, being ignorant, avoiding the law, and then, when you reach 35, you should have learned from your mistakes and be able to reflect on days of recklessness and enjoyment.
At the age of 35 you should be wiser, and you should know by then that alcohol can easily wreck a marriage, a relationship, a family, a newborn’s life, and it could lead to road accidents, road rage, and who knows what else (even prison).
Then we only have to be worried about the 21 to 34 years old drinkers, while those younger and older will all, hopefully, be sober.
I think that makes far more sense than just raising the age limit of legal drinking.
It would be like the government is saying: “Hey, we know you want to be free, wild, experimental and thirsty, so enjoy the 14 years (responsibly of course) grace period, but then be wise, settle down and enjoy a life of non-alcoholic beverages when your 35th birthday arrives.”
Naturally my proposal will not ever happen, as every distiller, brewer, restaurant and pub will run dry, which will lead to organised gangsterism making money from an illegal liquor trade.
But is is still a nice thought, and one that will actually help to curb abuse.
And, there is nothing wrong with wishful thinking.
