IT’S ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR THE 7th BIENNIAL GLOBAL ALCOHOL POLICY CONFERENCE

The Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA), the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) , Department of Social Development confirmed that all preparations have been completed for the 7th Biennial Global Alcohol Policy Conference as the Global Community descends on the Mother City to chart a way forward to reduce alcohol harm.

The harmful use of alcohol is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions. Worldwide, 3 million deaths every year result from harmful use of alcohol. This represents 5.3% of all deaths. Overall, 5.1% of the global burden of disease and injury is attributable to alcohol, as measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Beyond health consequences, the harmful use of alcohol brings significant social and economic losses to individuals and society at large.

Alcohol consumption causes death and disability relatively early in life. In people aged 20–39 years, approximately 13.5% of total deaths are attributable to alcohol harm. There is a causal relationship between harmful use of alcohol and a range of mental and behavioural disorders, other noncommunicable conditions and injuries.

Professor Charles Parry from the Medical Research Council (SAMRC) said in the South African context he would like to see movement on legislation.

“We want the Liquor Amendment Bill to be passed, there has not been action for the last six years, so it is opportune that we seeing this conference in South Africa reducing the burden from harmful use of alcohol. Health, safety and socioeconomic problems attributable to alcohol can be reduced when governments formulate and implement appropriate policies.”

He said policy-makers were encouraged to take action on strategies that have shown to be effective and cost-effective. These include:

  • regulating the marketing of alcoholic beverages (in particular to younger
    people);
  • regulating and restricting the availability of alcohol;
  • enacting appropriate drink-driving policies;
  • reducing demand through taxation and pricing mechanisms;
  • ensuring support for effective alcohol policies;
  • providing accessible and affordable treatment for people with alcohol-use disorders; and
  • implementing screening and brief intervention programmes in health services for hazardous and harmful drinking.

“Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu will be attending. We have participants from over 50 countries attending this year’s conference. The Global Alcohol Policy Conference (GAPC) was last held in Dublin and one of the issues we will be looking at during the conference is to determine if we need more national and global action to decisively deal with alcohol harm so it can be productively addressed,”  added Parry.

Siza Magangoe of the Department of Social Development said the department a policy framework to address the challenges precipitated by alcohol and other drug use in the country. She further said the policy was prompted by the changing nature, trends, extent of alcohol and other drug abuse in the country. The drug policy was approved by the Social Protection, Community and Human Development (SPCHD) Cabinet Committee to be gazetted for public comments.

Ms Aadielah Maker Diedericks from the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) representing Civil Society said as the country heads into 16 days of activism for no violence against women and children, they urge President Cyril Ramaphosa to look at alcohol as a driver of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and address it. “Men who consume alcohol are four times more likely to perpetrate violence,” she said.

Policy-makers are encouraged to take action on strategies that have shown to be effective and cost-effective. These include:

  • regulating the marketing of alcoholic beverages (in particular to younger people);
  • regulating and restricting the availability of alcohol;
  • enacting appropriate drink-driving policies;
  • reducing demand through taxation and pricing mechanisms;
  • raising awareness of the health and social problems for individuals and society at large caused by the harmful use of alcohol;
  • ensuring support for effective alcohol policies;
  • providing accessible and affordable treatment for people with alcohol-use disorders.

Reminder: Media practitioners may apply for media accreditation for the conference. All fields in the media accreditation form must be filled. Incomplete forms will not be accepted. The accreditation form is available on the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOQIc3EiBs9l6jj2vdWvv7Qav5hp3y...(link is external). The deadline for media accreditation is Monday, 23 October 2023.

Details are as follows:
Date: Monday, 23 October 2023
Time: 12:00
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC 2- Hall 8.1)

Media inquiries may be forwarded to:

Ms Lumka Oliphant (Department of Social Development)
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: Lumkao@dsd.gov.za (link sends e-mail)

Mr Julian Jacobs (#GAPC2023: Media Liaison)
Cell: 061 917 9661
E-mail: jlcommunications11@gmail.com (link sends e-mail)

Ms Terri-Liza Fortein (SAAPA: Communications Manager)
Cell: 079 976 5489
E-mail: terri-liza.fortein@saapa.africa

All open sessions of the conference can be followed on www.dsdtv.org.za

Bursary expectations

Please take note of the following expectations for bursary winners.

  • Bursary recipients must have valid travel documents and are responsible for obtaining appropriate travel approvals to attend the conference.
  • A full bursary will cover economy flights to and from Cape Town (arranged by the GAPC2023 Organisers), airport transfers in Cape Town, accommodation, and conference fees. It does not cover home-country transport, visa costs or a per diem.
  • Partial bursaries can include registration only; accommodation and flights only; flights only or accommodation only.
  • Bursary recipients may be held liable for any/all expense incurred if the awardee does not attend the conference. Note that Cancellations must be communicated in writing 1 month before the event to avoid liability costs.
  • Priority will be given to applicants from low- and middle-income countries who will not be able to otherwise attend the conference.

During the GAPC 2023 Conference:

  • Bursary recipients will be required to act as GAPC 2023 Ambassadors through live tweeting of sessions, and sharing posts and photos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. A social media plan will be shared with you prior to the event.
  • Bursary recipients will be asked to provide a blog post of their learning and experience at the GAPC 2023They will be required to complete a short evaluation form after the conference