Episode Details

South Africa’s alcohol consumption is rising despite economic decline—new research shows tax-paid booze sales jumped 24% between 2017 and 2024, while GDP and household income dipped. This directly contradicts the alcohol industry’s claim that the illicit market exploded by 55%, a figure based on questionable data. Economists argue legal sales can’t surge if illegal ones are also booming. The industry warns higher taxes will push people to cheaper black-market booze, hurting jobs and revenue—and wants taxes tied to inflation. Public health advocates and the Treasury counter that alcohol’s social costs aren’t priced in, and higher taxes are needed to curb harm—especially since low-income groups bear the brunt of alcohol-related deaths.

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