Survey: South Africans back raising drinking age

2011-07-07 12:08

Cape Town - Two-thirds of South Africans polled in a recent survey believe raising the legal drinking age to 21 would curb alcohol abuse, a market research company said on Thursday,

Out of 500 respondents, more than 60% also said drunken driving would be reduced if the government implemented a proposal by Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini to ban the sale of alcohol to people under 21.

"The results of the survey demonstrate public concern around alcohol abuse and support for governments' current and proposed actions against it," said Synovate's managing director Jake Orpen.

Ninety percent of those interviewed said underage drinking was a problem in South Africa and 78% said government had a duty to do something about it.

In May, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said he planned to fight for a ban on all forms of tobacco and alcohol advertising.

That proposal is encountering considerable opposition, with critics warning that it would result in a loss of revenue of R2.6bn.

But Synovate said 65% of those interviewed for its survey thought banning alcohol advertising was a good idea.
 

- SAPA