Alcohol ban during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown: Lessons for preventing foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in South Africa
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS
Abstract
During the two national lockdowns implemented in South Africa to curb the spread of the
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the sale and consumption of alcoholic
beverages were prohibited. There is observational evidence from the literature suggesting a
drastic reduction in the emergency and trauma unit admissions in many South African
hospitals and clinics with alcohol-related restrictions. This article explores the potential
benefits of the restrictions placed on the sale and consumption of alcohol during the COVID-19
pandemic on preventing foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) in South Africa. Following
the potential benefits of the alcohol bans, we recommended that the current South African
national liquor policy and the 2012 South African government-drafted Bill for Control of
Marketing of Alcoholic Beverages should be fully implemented and enforced. Furthermore,
the ‘best buys’ by the World Health Organization (WHO) should be adapted (based on local
evidence) and executed. Implementing the abovementioned policies can reduce alcohol abuse
by limiting and regulating the manufacturing, distribution, advertising, sponsorship,
promotion, physical availability and hours of sale of alcoholic beverages in South Africa.
Description
Keywords
Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), Alcohol ban, National lockdown, Covid-19, Public health, Pregnancy, South Africa
Citation
Adebiyi, B. O., & Mukumbang, F. C. (2022). Alcohol ban during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown: Lessons for preventing foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in South Africa. African journal of primary health care & family medicine, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v14i1.3686