GOVERNMENT is moving swiftly to increase the legal drinking age to 21.
A "programme of action" detailing how the law will be changed has already been drawn up and was approved by the inter-ministerial committee on substance abuse last month.
The committee consists of, among others, social development, sports and recreation, trade and industry, police, transport, basic education, higher education and health, said Conny Nxumalo, chief director of Social Crime Prevention and Substance Abuse in the Department of Social Development.
Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini first announced government's plans to increase the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 in March. Should this happen, South Africa will be the second African country where the legal age to drink is 21.
"The other is Cameroon, but 80percent of countries we investigated have an age limit of 18. In some countries, like Angola, the age limit is as low as 15," she said.
The government drew from research, particularly from the United States where the limit has been increased to 21.
Nxumalo said after the age increase in the US there was a 14percent decrease in alcohol consumption and a 19percent decrease in car accidents among youth.
"This resolution came from 670 delegates who attended the second Biennial Anti-Substance Abuse Summit in March. They supported government's move to have the age increased. This is because our children are in crisis when it comes to liquor," she said.
Nxumalo said that currently the World Health Organisation ranks South Africa at 47 out of 189 countries around the world for alcohol consumption and abuse.
Yesterday market research company Synovate released a report on the public's opinion on the proposed move to increase the legal drinking age.
Five hundred people from Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town were polled. Two thirds supported the government's plans.
You will need to be 21 to enjoy your favourite tipple
GOVERNMENT is moving swiftly to increase the legal drinking age to 21.
A "programme of action" detailing how the law will be changed has already been drawn up and was approved by the inter-ministerial committee on substance abuse last month.
The committee consists of, among others, social development, sports and recreation, trade and industry, police, transport, basic education, higher education and health, said Conny Nxumalo, chief director of Social Crime Prevention and Substance Abuse in the Department of Social Development.
Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini first announced government's plans to increase the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 in March. Should this happen, South Africa will be the second African country where the legal age to drink is 21.
"The other is Cameroon, but 80percent of countries we investigated have an age limit of 18. In some countries, like Angola, the age limit is as low as 15," she said.
The government drew from research, particularly from the United States where the limit has been increased to 21.
Nxumalo said after the age increase in the US there was a 14percent decrease in alcohol consumption and a 19percent decrease in car accidents among youth.
"This resolution came from 670 delegates who attended the second Biennial Anti-Substance Abuse Summit in March. They supported government's move to have the age increased. This is because our children are in crisis when it comes to liquor," she said.
Nxumalo said that currently the World Health Organisation ranks South Africa at 47 out of 189 countries around the world for alcohol consumption and abuse.
Yesterday market research company Synovate released a report on the public's opinion on the proposed move to increase the legal drinking age.
Five hundred people from Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town were polled. Two thirds supported the government's plans.
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