A timely piece that resonates with the South African experience: Commentary on Stockwell et al.

Tytuł:: A timely piece that resonates with the South African experience: Commentary on Stockwell et al.
Autorzy:: Parry CDH; Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.; Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Źródło:: Drug and alcohol review [Drug Alcohol Rev] 2021 Jan; Vol. 40 (1), pp. 8-9. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Oct 07.
Typ publikacji:: Journal Article; Comment
Język:: English
Imprint Name(s):: Publication: Original Publication: Abingdon, Oxfordshire, U.K. : Carfax Pub. Co.,
MeSH Terms:: Alcoholism*
COVID-19*
Cost of Illness*
Canada ; Communicable Disease Control ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; SARS-CoV-2 ; South Africa
References:: Stockwell T, Andreasson S, Cherpitel C et al. The burden of alcohol on healthcare during COVID-19. Drug Alcohol Rev 2021;40:3-7.
Ye Y, Shield K, Cherpitel C, Manthey J, Korcha R, Rehm J. Estimating alcohol-attributable fractions for injuries based on data from emergency department and observational studies: a comparison of two methods. Addiction 2018;114:462-70.
Hosken G. Every little bit of breathing space we get helps’: booze ban gives hospitals dramatic boost. Sunday Times 2020 Available from: https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/2020-07-19-everylittle-bit-of-breathing-space-we-get-helps-booze-ban-gives-hospitals-dramatic-boost/ (accessed 27 July 2020).
Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. Disaster management act of 2002: amendment of regulations issued in terms of section 27(2). Government Gaz 2020;43148: 398.
Mkhize Z. Mkhize defends return f alcohol ban. Covid-19 Online Resource and News Portal. 14 July 2020. Available from: https://sacoronavirus.co.za/2020/07/14/mkhize-defends-return-of-alcohol-ban/ (accessed 27 July 2020).
Stone J. Experts speak out against booze sales ban and taxi capacity. 2 oceans vibe news 14 2020. Available from: https://www.2oceansvibe.com/2020/07/14/experts-speak-out-against-booze-sales-ban-andtaxi-capacity/ (accessed 27 July 2020).
Parry C, Gray G, Maker A, Smithers M. Charting a healthier way forward for alcohol sales in South Africa, now and into the future. Daily Maverick Available from: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-07-27-charting-a-healthier-way-forward-for-alcohol-in-sa-now-and-into-the-future/#gsc.tab=0 (accessed 27 July 2020).
Contributed Indexing:: Keywords: COVID-19; South Africa; alcohol; alcohol industry; health services impact
Entry Date(s):: Date Created: 20201008 Date Completed: 20210120 Latest Revision: 20220531
Update Code:: 20240105
DOI:: 10.1111/dar.13159
PMID:: 33029822
: Czasopismo naukowe

Pełny tekst

The authors correctly conclude that the burden from alcohol in Canada is substantially greater than it is from COVID-19, and thus, alcohol should be given more attention. However, they fail to mention that in some countries, with the rise in COVID-19-related hospital admissions, competition can occur between COVID-19 and trauma patients for scarce hospital resources. In South Africa, this has led to the temporary banning of alcohol sales at two periods during the lockdown. Stockwell et al. highlight the fact that alcohol is deemed an 'essential service' in many countries and point to the reasons why this might have occurred, and that industry appears to be taking advantage of lockdown conditions to expand their reach in ways that might continue after the lockdown. The alcohol industry in South Africa has also used the points given by Stockwell et al. as to why governments might be reluctant to restrict alcohol at this time in pushing back against imposition of alcohol control measures, and furthermore referred to the effect of the sales ban on jobs in the alcohol and related industries and policy inconsistencies in dealing with different industries. Finally, the commentary expands on the measures presented on how governments should use the opportunity provided by the COVID-19 crisis to push for further alcohol control measures to be implemented.
(© 2020 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.)

Comment on: Drug Alcohol Rev. 2021 Jan;40(1):3-7. (PMID: 32835427)

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