Beyond Election Promises: Holding Political Parties Accountable for Alcohol Harm In October 2026, the True Cost of Alcohol Campaign, introduced the Election Accountability Tracker, an initiative designed to examine how South Africa’s political parties are addressing alcohol-related harm in their election manifestos ahead of the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections. The tracker provides voters…
THE TRUE COST OF ALCoHOL
SAAPA ALCOHOL TAXATION POLICY CAMPAIGN
The True Cost of Alcohol is a national civil-society campaign to save lives, reduce harm and restore dignity through targeted alcohol tax reform. Alcohol taxation and pricing policies are among the most effective and cost-effective alcohol control measures.
MORE ABOUT THIS CAMPAIGNOctober 2026 | Policy and Accountability
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1–3 October 2026 | National Alcohol Summit
From Conversation to Action: Reimagining South Africa’s Response to Alcohol Harm From 1–3 October 2026, the True Cost of Alcohol Campaign and its coalition partners, hosted the National Alcohol Summit 2026 at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. Held under the theme “What Needs to Change? Reimagining South Africa’s Response to Alcohol Harm,” the Summit brought together…
Advancing Women’s Safety: Women’s Parliament and the Launch of the Alcohol and Gender-Based Violence Study
In August 2026, the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance South Africa (SAAPA SA) and the True Cost of Alcohol Campaign, participated in the National Women’s Parliament held at Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley, Northern Cape. The gathering brought together women leaders, parliamentarians, government representatives, researchers, civil society organisations and community advocates to reflect on South…
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get more infoPARTNERS OF THIS CAMPAIGN
Behind this campaign
honour their legacy, don't rewrite it
Alcohol is destroying communities, Increase the excise tax on alcohol
SAAPA National Petition
Beer is cheaper than bread. Add your name to demand higher alcohol taxes and Minimum Unit Pricing, before Treasury decides.
690+
signatures already collected
TRUE COST OF ALCoHOL
Leading the Fight for Health Over Harm
Alcohol harm isn’t just a health issue, it’s a national crisis. Through stronger policies and higher taxes, we can save lives, protect communities, and build a healthier future.
The Problem
Alcohol harm is devastating South Africa, fueling violence, and stealing lives.
What We Are Advocating For
We’re pushing for targeted alcohol tax reform. Higher taxes, fewer harms, more lives saved.
Our Driving Force
This campaign is about justice, dignity, and putting people before profit.
THIS CAMPAIGN IS SUPPORTED BY THE RESET ALCOHOL INITIATIVE
Why This CAMPAIGN Matters for South Africa
WHY SHOULD YOU care?
Alcohol harm has a cost far beyond the bottle. It fuels violence, burdens hospitals, and steals potential from families and communities across South Africa. Yet, behind every statistic lies a story, of a life cut short, a family broken, a community left struggling. The True Cost of Alcohol campaign was created to confront this reality.
It’s a national movement led by civil society to save lives, reduce harm, and restore dignity through targeted alcohol tax reform. By raising prices and reducing easy access, we can slow consumption, prevent deaths, and shift the burden of alcohol harm away from the public and back onto the industry that profits from it.
Evidence shows that increasing alcohol excise taxes is one of the most effective and affordable ways to protect public health, reducing harm while generating revenue that can fund healthcare, education, and prevention. This campaign stands for a simple truth: when alcohol costs more, South Africa pays less.
THE TRUE COST IS SHOWN IN THE NUMBERS
Alcohol statistics
Hard facts revealing the human and economic toll of alcohol harm in South Africa.
70%
of youth report alcohol near schools
62%
of South Africans who drink engage in heavy episodic drinking
55%
of violent crimes in South Africa involve alcohol
R249B
Annual cost of alcohol harm in South Africa
As of 2013
35%
of hospital admissions involve alcohol
As of 2013
Have you been a victim of harm or violent crime due to alcohol use?
Share Your StoryWE ARE THE Voices for Change
Saapa Media features
Real conversations driving alcohol policy reform.
latest media release
Sep 29, 2026