Tobacco and alcohol use must be controlled says advocacy group

Government has been urged to tighten laws relating to tobacco and alcohol use in order to save lives of millions of South Africans.

Tobacco, Alcohol and Gambling Advisory, Advocacy and Action Group says government must expedite the passing into law the bills to control the abuse of these products.

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These include the Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill (Tobacco Bill).

This comes as the world observes International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Saturday, 26 June.

This year, the day is observed under the theme ‘Share facts on drugs, save lives’.

‘Whenever drugs are mentioned, we generally think about the illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, ecstasy, LSD and others.

‘However, the major drug of use and abuse in South Africa is nicotine. About eight million people in South Africa smoke and use nicotine,’ says the group’s CEO Peter Ucko.

‘Tobacco kills more than 40 000 people in South Africa every year and it is legal.

‘The other major drug, alcohol, which causes enormous harm to society and results in violence and death, is also legal.’

Ucko said although they do not suggest these must be declared illegal, they must be controlled more effectively.

‘The fact is that tobacco products (nicotine) and alcohol are the cause of more deaths, and more harm than all the other drugs and road accidents combined.

‘To save lives, we urge government to pay careful attention to these Bills and expedite their promulgation into law,’ he said.

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