Abstract
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic evolves globally, we are realising its impact on communities from the disease itself and the measures being taken to limit infection spread. In South Africa (SA), 62 300 adults die annually from alcohol-attributable causes. Alcohol-related harm can be reduced by interventions, such as taxation, government monopolising retail sales, outlet density restriction, hours of sales and an advertising ban. To mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, SA instituted a lockdown that also prohibited alcohol sales. This led to a sharp reduction in unnatural deaths in the country from 800–1000/week to around 400/week during the lockdown. We reviewed three 2-week periods at a large rural regional hospital: Before Covid-19 (February), during social distancing (March) and during lockdown with alcohol ban (April). A dramatic drop in patient numbers from 145 to 64 (55.8%) because of assault, from 207 to 83 (59.9%) because of accidents, from 463 to 188 (59.4%) because of other injuries and from 12 to 1 (91.6%) because of sexual assaults was observed during the first 2 weeks of lockdown. As healthcare professionals, we need to advocate for the ban to remain until the crisis is over to ensure that health services can concentrate on Covid-19 and other patients. We encourage other African states to follow suit and implement alcohol restrictions as a mechanism to free up health services. We see this as an encouragement to lobby for a new normal around alcohol sales after the pandemic. The restrictions should focus on all evidence-based modalities.
Highlights
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic evolves globally, we are realising its impact on communities because of the disease itself and the measures being taken to limit infection spread
Recognising that http://www.phcfm.org alcohol restrictions have many economic implications, the regulation of alcohol requires a reactivation of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Substance Abuse, the passing of the 2017 Alcohol Bill[4] and a whole of society approach to improve the healthcare of the people of South Africa (SA).[9]
One certainty is that a prohibition of alcohol sales in South Africa has reduced pressure on emergency care units and lowered mortality
Summary
As the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic evolves globally, we are realising its impact on communities because of the disease itself and the measures being taken to limit infection spread. Whist other factors, such as the restrictions on travel, less traffic and lockdown probably contributed, the limitations placed on the binge drinking culture in SA, often in drinking outlets close to people’s homes, with the associated violent engagements that often accompany it, most likely played a significant role.[5] There has been a reduction in contact crime, for example, attempted murder cases from 1300 to 443, rape cases from 2908 to 371, assault cases from 11 876 to 1758 and domestic violence cases decreased by 69.4%.5 Whilst these outcomes cannot be attributed to the ban on alcohol sales only, the impact at least suggests some association.[5] Domestic violence is difficult to measure, as it depends on reporting.
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