Turning off the alcohol tap: steps to limit the risks and hazards arising from risky alcohol consumption

The total ban on alcohol sale and public consumption was a controversial feature of the COVID-19 hard lockdown in South Africa. It created a unique environment in which risks arising from alcohol consumption were significantly reduced, highlighting the urgency in finding further solutions to reduce alcohol-related harms. A recent HSRC study on the impact of alcohol consumption in Mpumalanga quantified the scale and nature of the harm from alcohol consumption. The findings offer new directions for alcohol policymakers and regulators.