State bans partnerships with liquor industry

The Department of Social Development is preparing a package of legislation to address substance abuse in SA - including raising the purchasing age of alcohol from 18 to 21 - and is concerned the liquor industry will lobby its officials against it.

The memorandum follows a letter sent last year by Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini to all premiers instructing them not to "partner with any company in the liquor industry even in programmes that the industry describes as part of their own initiatives to reduce alcohol-related harm".

She said this was in line with the policies of the World Health Organisation, "which actively discourage" such partnering.

Source: Business Day