Alcohol ban loading? Increase in booze-related trauma ‘causing concern’

With just two weeks to go until Christmas, you could forgive any South African who isn’t feeling particularly festive this year. The whole of 2020 has been exhausting, and it seems like the start of 2021 will also test our resolve. COVID-19 infections – and booze-related traumas – are both increasing in some parts of SA, sparking fears over a ‘third alcohol ban’.

Western Cape opposes alcohol ban, but may not avoid it

On two previous occasions this year, liquor was yanked from the shelves in order to help ease the burden on hospital capacities. The argument made – and indeed, precedent set – by the government is that booze is a key factor in a large number of trauma cases, and Mzansi can’t afford to have its emergency rooms clogged at the height of a pandemic.

Trauma numbers fell in many hospitals during the original alcohol ban, and with South Africa’s second wave likely to match the first, all restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 and save lives will be considered. It’s not something Western Cape Premier Alan Winde agrees with, however – even though the Western Cape has entered into another ‘battle with the bottle’.

Alcohol ban could return ‘based on current trends’

In November, trauma admissions soared by over 36%. COVID-19 hospitalisations quadrupled, and a surge in inter-personal violence and motor vehicle accidents (fuelled by drink) has created something of a perfect storm in the province:

“We are starting to see major growth in the number of trauma cases at our care facilities, which is a common trend for this time of the year. Indeed, in November, the number of trauma admissions have increased by 36.2%. When this is combined with a 400% increase in Covid-19 admissions over the same period, the system starts to come under extreme pressure.”

“The increase in trauma remains related to the abuse of alcohol, as captured in our reporting at several hospitals. The trauma is caused primarily by inter-personal violence and motor vehicle accidents. If the growth in trauma and COVID-19 cases continues to grow at current rates, care capacity in the Western Cape will start to buckle.”

“I do need to make clear, though, that the Western Cape does not support blunt instruments like a total ban on alcohol as we saw earlier this year, as this would destroy our hospitality and agro-processing economy and exacerbate our humanitarian crisis. Our goal has always been to base our decisions on data and evidence.”

Alan Winde

Western Cape COVID-19 numbers ’cause for concern’

Despite the Western Cape’s aversion to a ‘blunt restriction’ like the alcohol ban, officials in the City of Cape Town have accepted that the latest numbers are a cause for concern. Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, is worried that the health system could be lumbered with an ‘unnecessary burden’ over Christmas.

“Alcohol is a big concern over the festive season: We’ve mentioned before that alcohol-related trauma places an unnecessary burden on the health system, particularly now that we are needing those resources to combat the COVID-19 resurgence. It also places pressure on our limited enforcement resources who are stretched at the best of times.”

JP Smith