What If… Alcohol Was Banned?
By: Janet Gourand
Tags: Alcoholism, Alcohol Ban, South Africa

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Cape Town beach..

Nearly 4M people have died from Covid, a tragic statistic that resulted in the world closing down in an effort to contain the virus.

However, 3M people die every single year from alcohol-related causes and absolutely nothing happens. The liquor industry continues its relentless crusade to convince us that we need their product to enjoy our lives and societal norms result in alcohol being “the only drug we have to justify NOT taking”

So what would the world look like without alcohol in it?

Well, here in South Africa we’ve been doing a unique experiment and have had a look at that scenario.

For many years alcohol has been a heavy burden on South Africa. Not only were many farmworkers paid in alcohol but the legacy of apartheid is still evident, resulting in 50% of the population living in poverty.

With unemployment rates at 30% and a culture of binge drinking, alcohol is firmly entrenched in our society, and for many is the only way to numb their despair.

An average of 130 people a day die from alcohol-related causes — gunshot wounds, car crashes, interpersonal violence, and health issues.

gang violence

South Africa’s first alcohol ban was implemented in April to reduce the strain on our health services.

The goal was to reduce the never-ending flow of alcohol-related injuries to allow the hospitals to admit and treat Covid patients.

This strategy was stunningly successful — rather like turning a tap on and off. Ban alcohol and empty the trauma wards. Re-instate alcohol and the wards fill up again.

As more positive results streamed in, the alcohol ban was extended to May and since then 2 further bans have been imposed.

Between bans we’ve seen infections begin to climb again — shebeens were full, parties were back on, funerals and church services resulted in “super spreader” situations.

When the government decided that infections had climbed again to unacceptable levels they brought back the alcohol ban and made some room in the hospitals.

Covid patient

So what were the positive results of the alcohol ban?

In the early stages of the pandemic, the death rate was actually lower than usual due to the alcohol ban. While many countries were experiencing an excess of deaths due to the pandemic, in South Africa fewer lives were lost than normal.

No longer were 130 people a day dying from alcohol-related causes.

Here are some stats:-

Reduced violence

· Murder cases reduced by 72%

· Rape cases reduced by 87%

· GBH reduced by 85%

· Armed Robbery decreased by 69%

· Domestic violence decreased by 69%

Drop-in trauma cases in hospitals

· Hospital trauma admissions have decreased by 66%

(Most of the trauma admissions are alcohol-related — gunshot injuries and car crashes.)

Dr. Rooyen who works in the trauma unit at Mitchells Plain District Hospital in Cape Town said:-

“In normal times almost every patient at the weekend has consumed alcohol or has been injured by someone under the influence of alcohol. I support the ban because it has allowed me and my team to care for Covid patients.”

South African trauma units have been accustomed to mass casualties many of which are linked to alcohol on weekends and public holidays.

The chilling fact is that this has become so commonplace that it has escaped the attention of the country.

The alcohol ban has uncovered the depth of this problem and there are now some efforts to make some changes in alcohol policy going forward.

Measures under consideration include restrictions on trading times, the number of alcohol outlets, and a mass media awareness campaign on alcohol harm. The draft Liquor Amendment Bill has been gathering dust since 2017 but is now being re-considered.

Unsurprisingly Big Alcohol is opposing the alcohol sales ban vigorously as they don’t want the government or the population to realize the benefits of alcohol control.

The liquor industry’s profits depend on South Africans consuming unhealthy levels of alcohol, even at the risk of death.

So of course they are lobbying the government to lift the alcohol ban. One of their arguments is that the ban is increasing illegal alcohol sales.

However according to Prof Charles Parry, Director of the Alcohol, Tobacco Research Unit at SAMRC:

“If alcohol was so widely available we would have seen a return of patients to trauma units. The latest data from our hospitals proves that this is not the case.”

In fact, the Human Science Research Council has reported that only 2.5% of respondents to a survey said that alcohol was accessible during the lockdown.

However, there is another argument from the liquor industry which is more convincing.



Close to 165,000 people in the alcohol industry supply chain have lost their jobs.

As in many other countries, significant sections of the economy have been built around the fact that many people are consuming alcohol at dangerous levels.

The challenge for many governments is of course to protect their nation’s health without destroying the economy.

A delicate balancing act and an unenviable task for political leaders — who history will judge for their handling of this crisis.

As the second wave of Covid hit in December the South Africa President took the brave step of banning alcohol once more. “Alcohol is a hindrance to the fight against the Coronavirus,” he said.

Janet Gourand is the founder of www.worldwithoutwine.com

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