Motsoaledi reiterated his intention to ban liquor advertising at the launch of a health campaign in uMlazi, KwaZulu Natal last week.

He explained that although the liquor industry contributed R19 billion to the economy each year, the country spends around R39 billion trying to reverse the adverse effects of alcohol. Motsoaledi said alcohol has been found to be a contributing factor in the majority of road accidents in South Africa.

‘€œShow me any person who buys oranges for R39 and sells them for R19 and I will call a psychiatrists,’€ Motsoaledi quipped.

In 1998 when former Health Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma banned tobacco advertising, critics also said that it would have a negative effect on the economy, but it didn’€™t, argued Motsoaledi.

‘€œSmoking is one of the most stupid things that mankind has ever engaged in. No one can talk of any benefits of smoking. Why do we go on with such a useless pastime?’€ he said.

Motsoaledi is also planning to introduce new stringent laws to regulate smoking and the sale of tobacco. These regulationshave already been put out for public comment and will probably be implemented before the end of the year:

·                 Cigarettes or tobacco products should not be displayed by shops.

·                 Make all buildings smoke-free zones and ban smoking within 10m of entrances and ventilation facilities of any public building.

·                 Ban smoking at beaches, schools, stadiums, as well as in outdoor eating and drinking areas.

According to the South African tobacco industry, there are 7.7 million adult smokers in South Africa. Smoking kills around 44  000 South Africans every year.

Source: IOL