Oh how fun it is to laugh at the US, a country where you can drive a car at 16, join the army at 17 and only crack a beer at a bar when 21.

Now we know that here at home we’re not shy of a drink, which is probably why those five litre papsaks fly off the shelves in liquor outlets around the country. The government are looking at measures to curb what is being dubbed our ‘rampant alcohol abuse’ problem, and the biggest change will cause varsity students to quake in their boots. Here’s Fin24:

The proposals in the Liquor Policy Review, a discussion document, start with an attempt to restrict the sale of liquor to the youth by raising the legal age of access from 18 to 21.

Wow, I did not see that coming. More bad news for big alcohol brands and their marketing teams – it looks like their advertising budgets are about to take a pummeling:

A crucial element is giving new powers to restrict advertising of alcohol and prohibit the promotion of liquor through sponsorships of sports teams and entertainment events.

Now for a shot to the guts for all hospitality staff:

An attempt to deter bar staff from serving customers who are already intoxicated is in the proposal, which threatens to hold bar workers, manufacturers, distributors and traders liable for any harm or damage if the drunken customer is involved in a car crash or crime.

As you can imagine big booze businesses aren’t going to take this one lying down, with some heavyweights having already come out swinging. Here’s Leon Louw, CEO of the Free Market Foundation:

If the government wants to take the responsibility of managing our lifestyle, which is actually our own right, they should also regulate obesity, which is also a huge problem…

People forget that we had very strict alcohol regulations during apartheid, which were repealed because they were ineffective and counterproductive. So why are we trying it again?

We may have to learn a thing or two from the US then, particularly how to make decent moonshine and host an underage keg party.

[source:fin24]