in the media

Hundreds of people marched to Parliament on Wednesday, demanding an increase in alcohol taxes. Led by the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA), the marchers included civil society organisations, community health workers, neighbourhood watch members and members of community policing forums.

SA is being asked to believe that increasing excise taxes on alcohol will destroy jobs, fuel illicit trade and weaken the economy. It is a message repeated often and loudly.

SA’s fiscal debate is dominated by debt ratios, growth projections, and revenue shortfalls. Yet one of the country’s largest economic drains remains largely absent from mainstream policy discussion: alcohol harm.

From the mines of Limeacres to the streets of Groenwater and Danielskuil, Nqoba Ulutsha is a voice for Northern Cape youth. They work daily to shield young people from social harms and build a future rooted in dignity. This is why they support increasing the excise tax on alcohol. They stand for evidence-based policy that protects young people, reduces preventable harm, and strengthens the long-term health, safety, and prosperity of our communities.

The Faith & Hope Foundation represents the strength and resilience of Ga-Rankuwa. Through education support, youth skills development, health advocacy, and grassroots sport, they work every day to protect young people, support families, and build safer communities. Their mission is rooted in dignity, opportunity, and preventing the social harms that hold communities back. This is why their support for increasing excise tax on alcohol matters. They see firsthand how cheap and easily available alcohol fuels violence, Gender-Based Violence, school dropout, and economic hardship. By supporting the increase of excise tax on alcohol, they are standing for evidence-based policy that reduces harm, protects youth, and redirects resources toward community development. Their handprints on the national canvas are a clear message: communities want action, not excuses. #thetruecostofalcohol #increaseexisetaxonalcohol #faithandhope #alcoholpolicynow

Malmesbury, Cape Town is standing strong! Their leaders and vibrant youth community joined forces in a powerful workshop to challenge the culture of excessive drinking. Through youth-led poster messaging, they are making the True Cost of Alcohol visible to all. The Malmesbury community members joins SAAPA SA and its True Cost of Alcohol campaign along with other communities and stakeholders as we march to parliament next week Wednesday. Watch the space for more info. #TrueCostToAlcohol #IncreaseExciseTax #SAAPASA

SAAPA-SA unpacks ‘The True Cost of Alcohol’, revealing the heavy toll alcohol harm takes on society and SA’s economy

When SAAPA hosted one of its True Cost of Alcohol community dialogues earlier this year in Middelburg, the scale of alcohol saturation in local communities came into sharp focus. Stakeholders revealed that Mhluzi alone has approximately 135 licensed liquor outlets, a startling figure that paints a grim picture of how deeply alcohol has embedded itself into daily life.

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The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance is calling for stricter regulations on alcohol advertising, warning that exposure significantly increases the risk of underage drinking.

Hundreds of people marched to Parliament on Wednesday, demanding an increase in alcohol taxes. Led by the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA), the marchers included civil society organisations, community health workers, neighbourhood watch members and members of community policing forums.

SA is being asked to believe that increasing excise taxes on alcohol will destroy jobs, fuel illicit trade and weaken the economy. It is a message repeated often and loudly.

SA’s fiscal debate is dominated by debt ratios, growth projections, and revenue shortfalls. Yet one of the country’s largest economic drains remains largely absent from mainstream policy discussion: alcohol harm.

SAAPA-SA unpacks ‘The True Cost of Alcohol’, revealing the heavy toll alcohol harm takes on society and SA’s economy

When SAAPA hosted one of its True Cost of Alcohol community dialogues earlier this year in Middelburg, the scale of alcohol saturation in local communities came into sharp focus. Stakeholders revealed that Mhluzi alone has approximately 135 licensed liquor outlets, a startling figure that paints a grim picture of how deeply alcohol has embedded itself into daily life.

The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance is calling for stricter regulations on alcohol advertising, warning that exposure significantly increases the risk of underage drinking.

The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) says alcohol continues to drive violence and crime, particularly in communities where liquor outlets are densely concentrated near residential areas.

From the mines of Limeacres to the streets of Groenwater and Danielskuil, Nqoba Ulutsha is a voice for Northern Cape youth. They work daily to shield young people from social harms and build a future rooted in dignity. This is why they support increasing the excise tax on alcohol. They stand for evidence-based policy that protects young people, reduces preventable harm, and strengthens the long-term health, safety, and prosperity of our communities.

The Faith & Hope Foundation represents the strength and resilience of Ga-Rankuwa. Through education support, youth skills development, health advocacy, and grassroots sport, they work every day to protect young people, support families, and build safer communities. Their mission is rooted in dignity, opportunity, and preventing the social harms that hold communities back. This is why their support for increasing excise tax on alcohol matters. They see firsthand how cheap and easily available alcohol fuels violence, Gender-Based Violence, school dropout, and economic hardship. By supporting the increase of excise tax on alcohol, they are standing for evidence-based policy that reduces harm, protects youth, and redirects resources toward community development. Their handprints on the national canvas are a clear message: communities want action, not excuses. #thetruecostofalcohol #increaseexisetaxonalcohol #faithandhope #alcoholpolicynow

Malmesbury, Cape Town is standing strong! Their leaders and vibrant youth community joined forces in a powerful workshop to challenge the culture of excessive drinking. Through youth-led poster messaging, they are making the True Cost of Alcohol visible to all. The Malmesbury community members joins SAAPA SA and its True Cost of Alcohol campaign along with other communities and stakeholders as we march to parliament next week Wednesday. Watch the space for more info. #TrueCostToAlcohol #IncreaseExciseTax #SAAPASA

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If you've missed The True Cost of Alcohol article in Business Day, you can read it here.

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