International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

South Africa’s COVID-19 Alcohol Sales Ban: The Potential for Better Policy-Making

Document Type : Letter to Editor

Authors
Richard Matzopoulos 1, 2
Helen Walls 3
Sarah Cook 4, 5
Leslie London 1
1 School of Public Health & Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
2 Burden of Disease Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
3 Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
4 Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
5 Department of Community Medicine, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
10.34172/ijhpm.2020.93
Abstract
South Africa’s COVID-19 Alcohol Sales Ban: The Potential for Better Policy-Making
Keywords
Alcohol
Policy
Violence
Injuries
COVID-19
Subjects

 

Dear Editor,

Evidence of the social impacts of emergency responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is emerging in several countries, including increased prevalence of domestic violence.1 Alcohol is the elephant in the room in mediating many such impacts, yet governments have been reluctant to address alcohol sales in the context of social-distancing measures. Exceptions include several African countries including South Africa, Namibia, and Madagascar.2 ... (Read more...)

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  2. Maker A. The situation in Southern African countries regarding COVID-19 and alcohol: an overview. Movendi International. 2020. https://movendi.ngo/blog/2020/04/19/the-situation-in-southern-african-countries-regarding-covid-19-and-alcohol-an-overview/. Accessed April 23, 2020.
  3. Matzopoulos R, Bowman B, Mathews S, Myers J. Applying upstream interventions for interpersonal violence prevention: An uphill struggle in low- to middle-income contexts. Health Policy. 2010;97:62-70. doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2010.03.003
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  7. Masuabi K. Bheki Cele: ‘I wish alcohol ban could be extended beyond lockdown.’ City Press. April 5, 2020. https://city-press.news24.com/News/bheki-cele-i-wish-alcohol-ban-could-be-extended-beyond-lockdown-20200405.   Accessed April 23, 2020.
  8. Matzopoulos R, Truen S, Bowman B, Corrigall J. The cost of harmful alcohol use in South Africa. South African Med J. 2014;104:127-132.
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  10. Van Walbeek C, Blecher M. The economics of alcohol use, misuse and policy in South Africa. Cape Town, 2014.
  11. Walls H, Cook S, Matzopoulos R, London L. Advancing alcohol research in low-income and middle-income countries: a global alcohol environment framework. BMJ Global Health. 2020;5(4):e001958. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001958
  12. Statistics South Africa. Quarterly Labour Force Survey (4th Quarter 2019). Pretoria, South Africa, 2019. http://nesstar.statssa.gov.za:8282/webview/.  Accessed April 23, 2020.
International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Volume 9, Issue 11
November 2020
Pages 486-487

  • Received Date 20 May 2020
  • Revised Date 04 June 2020
  • Accepted Date 04 June 2020
  • First Published Date 01 November 2020
  • Published Date 01 November 2020