SOUTH African Breweries (SAB) says it is "deeply concerned and disappointed" by a draft bill that proposes a complete ban on the marketing and promotion of alcohol products.
Yesterday Business Day reported that the draft bill, which prohibits the advertising and promotion of alcoholic products, was being reworked behind closed doors by a government task team.
According to the report, the bill, which was prematurely leaked into the public domain, had caused alarm in industry circles because of its heavy-handed approach
"We are disappointed and concerned by the decision taken by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and his Social Development counterpart Bathabile Dlamini to consistently refuse to engage with the alcohol industry, despite the fact that we agree that alcohol abuse is at unacceptable levels in South Africa," said SAB spokesman Benedict Maaga.
Motsoaledi last night told Sowetan that he would not comment about the bill until it had been finalised.
"It would really be unfair for me to comment on the leaked document and on something that has not been officially presented," he said.
Meanwhile, the South African Council of Churches (SACC) has accused "those who leaked the bill" of trying to sway the public and influence the process.
"We are aware of how highly contested and emotional the issue of controlling advertisement of alcohol is," SACC general secretary Reverend Mautji Pataki said in a statement.
"[We] would therefore encourage South Africans to act in a more responsible manner and allow the bill to be presented for public comments before engaging its content."
Row rages over booze ads
SOUTH African Breweries (SAB) says it is "deeply concerned and disappointed" by a draft bill that proposes a complete ban on the marketing and promotion of alcohol products.
Yesterday Business Day reported that the draft bill, which prohibits the advertising and promotion of alcoholic products, was being reworked behind closed doors by a government task team.
According to the report, the bill, which was prematurely leaked into the public domain, had caused alarm in industry circles because of its heavy-handed approach
"We are disappointed and concerned by the decision taken by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and his Social Development counterpart Bathabile Dlamini to consistently refuse to engage with the alcohol industry, despite the fact that we agree that alcohol abuse is at unacceptable levels in South Africa," said SAB spokesman Benedict Maaga.
Motsoaledi last night told Sowetan that he would not comment about the bill until it had been finalised.
"It would really be unfair for me to comment on the leaked document and on something that has not been officially presented," he said.
Meanwhile, the South African Council of Churches (SACC) has accused "those who leaked the bill" of trying to sway the public and influence the process.
"We are aware of how highly contested and emotional the issue of controlling advertisement of alcohol is," SACC general secretary Reverend Mautji Pataki said in a statement.
"[We] would therefore encourage South Africans to act in a more responsible manner and allow the bill to be presented for public comments before engaging its content."
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