If the proposals are enacted, it will signal constraints, if not the end of our booze and braai culture, and the casual acceptance of drinking and driving.
It will have a huge impact on major sports codes and teams, including for Bafana Bafana and the Proteas, who are supported by substantial sponsorships from SA Breweries (SAB) and others. Sporting codes stand to lose billions in alcohol sponsorships, which also extend to music and fashion.
The proposals in the Liquor Policy Review, a discussion document, start with an attempt to restrict the sale of liquor to the youth by raising the legal age of access from 18 to 21.
A crucial element is giving new powers to restrict advertising of alcohol and prohibit the promotion of liquor through sponsorships of sports teams and entertainment events.
The proposals aim to crack down on thousands of unlicenced shebeens and taverns by punishing suppliers for enabling high levels of inebriation.
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Government Gazette, 20 May 2015 : General Notice