THE TRUE COST OF ALCoHOL

SAAPA ALCOHOL TAXATION POLICY CAMPAIGN

The True Cost of Alcohol is a national civil-society campaign to save lives, reduce harm and restore dignity through targeted alcohol tax reform. Alcohol taxation and pricing policies are among the most effective and cost-effective alcohol control measures.

MORE ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGN

Campaign and Communications Update
SAAPA SA prioritizes ensuring that both civil society and policymakers receive the evidence necessary to implement effective alcohol policies. Prior to the 2026 National Budget, we dispatched an SOS-style evidence-based briefing to all parliamentarians and political parties, outlining the critical role of excise tax and the socio-economic impacts of alcohol.

SAAPA SA and “The True Cost of Alcohol” campaign is not affiliated with any political party.

Our mandate is driven by independent research, aligned with The National Drug Master Plan for public health advocacy to foster an #AlcoholSAFER South Africa.

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Nomcebo Dlamini Participated in a High-Level Panel at GAPC 2026
SAAPA SA’s True Cost of Alcohol Campaign Director, Nomcebo Dlamini, participated in a high-level panel at GAPC 2026 alongside delegates from Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines to discuss “The True Cost of Alcohol: Traditional Leadership, Civil Society, and Fiscal Policy Advocacy in South Africa.”

Leveraging the governance of National House of the Traditional and Khoisan leaders representing 19 million people, the campaign seeks to transition the fiscal narrative from revenue generation to social protection. This technical shift supports a strategic call to increase excise tax as a primary public health intervention to mitigate the externalized costs of alcohol harm, demonstrating a replicable, community-driven model for the Global South.

#SAAPASA #TheTrueCostOfAlcohol #increaseexcisetaxonalcohol

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SAAPA SA Joins Global Partners in Rio for GAPC 2026
SAAPA SA joins global partners at the RESET Alcohol Partner Meeting in Rio de Janeiro for GAPC 2026 to represent the True Cost of Alcohol.

SAAPA SA delivered in-depth strategies through panel discussions alongside partners from Brazil, Mexico, and the Philippines. Collaborative engagement with the RESET Alcohol team, a global initiative led by Vital Strategies and the World Health Organization, consolidated the technical expertise necessary to direct national and international policy frameworks.

The Global Alcohol Policy Conference (GAPC 2026) is the premier forum for alcohol policy architects. It serves as a strategic launchpad for global mobilization to ensure the socio-economic impact of alcohol is prioritized within the highest tiers of governmental and multilateral agendas.

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Join us for the Upcoming National Treasury Technical Workshop

get more info

PARTNERS OF THIS CAMPAIGN

Behind this campaign

honour their legacy, don't rewrite it

Alcohol is destroying communities, Increase the excise tax on alcohol

SAAPA National Petition

Beer is cheaper than bread. Add your name to demand higher alcohol taxes and Minimum Unit Pricing, before Treasury decides.

sign the petition now

690+

signatures already collected

TRUE COST OF ALCoHOL

Leading the Fight for Health Over Harm 

Alcohol harm isn’t just a health issue, it’s a national crisis. Through stronger policies and higher taxes, we can save lives, protect communities, and build a healthier future.

The Problem
Alcohol harm is devastating South Africa, fueling violence, and stealing lives.
What We Are Advocating For
We’re pushing for targeted alcohol tax reform. Higher taxes, fewer harms, more lives saved.
Our Driving Force
This campaign is about justice, dignity, and putting people before profit.

THIS CAMPAIGN IS SUPPORTED BY THE RESET ALCOHOL INITIATIVE

Why This CAMPAIGN Matters for South Africa

WHY SHOULD YOU care?

Alcohol harm has a cost far beyond the bottle. It fuels violence, burdens hospitals, and steals potential from families and communities across South Africa. Yet, behind every statistic lies a story, of a life cut short, a family broken, a community left struggling. The True Cost of Alcohol campaign was created to confront this reality.

It’s a national movement led by civil society to save lives, reduce harm, and restore dignity through targeted alcohol tax reform. By raising prices and reducing easy access, we can slow consumption, prevent deaths, and shift the burden of alcohol harm away from the public and back onto the industry that profits from it.

Evidence shows that increasing alcohol excise taxes is one of the most effective and affordable ways to protect public health, reducing harm while generating revenue that can fund healthcare, education, and prevention. This campaign stands for a simple truth: when alcohol costs more, South Africa pays less.

Learn More About Alcohol in SA

Here’s the evidence driving the call for change - The numbers tell a story that’s too big to ignore - Here’s the evidence driving the call for change - The numbers tell a story that’s too big to ignore - Here’s the evidence driving the call for change - The numbers tell a story that’s too big to ignore - Here’s the evidence driving the call for change -

THE TRUE COST IS SHOWN IN THE NUMBERS

Alcohol statistics

Hard facts revealing the human and economic toll of alcohol harm in South Africa.

70%

of youth report alcohol near schools

62%

of South Africans who drink engage in heavy episodic drinking

55%

of violent crimes in South Africa involve alcohol

R249B

Annual cost of alcohol harm in South Africa

As of 2013

35%

of hospital admissions involve alcohol

As of 2013

Have you been a victim of harm or violent crime due to alcohol use?

Share Your Story

WE ARE THE Voices for Change

Saapa Media features

Real conversations driving alcohol policy reform.

latest media release

All, Interviews

Oct 28, 2026

SAfm: SAAPA Raises Concerns Over Alcohol-Fuelled Violence in South African Communities

See Feature

Sep 22, 2026

See Feature

THE TRUE COST OF ALCoHOL

Join us for the Upcoming National Treasury Technical Workshop

PARTNERS OF THIS CAMPAIGN

honour their legacy, don't rewrite it

Alcohol is destroying communities, Increase the excise tax on alcohol

690+

Leading the Fight for Health Over Harm

The Problem

What We Are Advocating For

Our Driving Force

THIS CAMPAIGN IS SUPPORTED BY THE RESET ALCOHOL INITIATIVE

Why This CAMPAIGN Matters for South Africa

THE TRUE COST IS SHOWN IN THE NUMBERS

70%

62%

55%

R249B

35%

Have you been a victim of harm or violent crime due to alcohol use?

WE ARE THE Voices for Change

latest media release

SAfm: SAAPA Raises Concerns Over Alcohol-Fuelled Violence in South African Communities

more media release

eNCA: SAAPA Addresses the Link Between Liquor Establishments and Mass Shootings

EWN: SAAPA Pushes for a Pause on Liquor Licences Until Community Risks Are Understood

Metro FM Talk: SAAPA Calls Attention to Alcohol-Related Violence in Taverns

702 Interview: SAAPA Questions Why Liquor Outlets in Townships and Rural Areas Remain Underregulated

SA needs more than ‘drink responsibly’ to tackle alcohol-related harm, says SAAPA

Mass Shootings Expose Growing Concerns Over Liquor Licensing and Public Safety

CapeTalk: SAAPA Calls for a Halt to New Liquor Licences in Densely Populated Areas

Channel Africa SAAPA Interview: Can Fiscal Policy Change Reduce Alcohol-Related Harm?

SAfm SAAPA Interview: Inside the National Alcohol Summit and the Fight Against Alcohol Harm

RSG Interview: Will Government’s Latest Alcohol Measures Really Reduce Road Deaths?

Leading the Fight for Health Over Harm 