No outright ban on alcohol ads - report

Johannesburg - A government task team investigating restrictions on alcohol advertising would probably not recommend an outright ban, according to a report in the Business Day on Wednesday.

The government's final decision on alcohol advertising is keenly awaited by the alcohol industry and by the media, which depend heavily on its advertising expenditure.

For the SABC alone, annual advertising spending from alcohol companies amounts to between R250m and R400m.

A proposal emerged in parliament on Tuesday for "significant" restrictions on alcohol advertising and, possibly, a ban in particular segments of the media.

Opponents of alcohol advertising claim alcohol causes accidents, lowers productivity and causes health and social problems. However, Zane Dangor, special adviser to Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, said a task team set up to probe the issue has adopted the approach that it is a public health issue rather than one of cost to the economy.

Dangor told a parliamentary media briefing by the social protection and community development cluster of ministers that the task team is looking at models used in other countries.

They are particularly interested in France, where restrictions were placed on TV, internet and radio advertising of alcohol.

Dangor said the task team would submit its report to an inter-ministerial committee soon.