Pretoria – The excessive consumption of alcohol in Africa and the rest of the world contributes to chronic diseases which in many instances can be fatal.

Professor Isidore Obot, of the Department of Behavioural Health Sciences at Morgan State University of Public Health Policy in the United States, explained this in a seminar on alcohol at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) on Monday.

Mr Obot said according to research conducted by the HSRC, it is estimated that there are about 2 billion alcohol users worldwide.

“About 76.4 million people suffer from alcohol use disorders including harmful use of alcohol and alcohol dependence.

“Globally, alcohol was responsible for 4 percent of global disease burden in 2000,” said Prof Obot, adding that alcohol was responsible for 1. 8 million deaths in 2000.

Other contributing factors to chronic diseases include tobacco consumption, physical inactivity, obesity and cholesterol levels.

A variety of social ills could also be linked to alcohol abuse, said the expert.

The study also found, predictably, that marketing and promoting alcohol also contributes to high levels of alcohol consumption.

“Exposure to repeated high-level alcohol promotion inculcates pro-drinking attitudes and increases the likelihood of heavier drinking,” said Prof Obot.

In addition, it was found that alcohol advertising predisposes young people to drinking well before the legal age of purchase in their respective countries.

This, said Prof Obot, is because advertising has been found to promote and reinforce perceptions of drinking as positive, glamorous and relatively risk-free.

The study recommended that policies be put in place worldwide to reduce the high levels of alcohol consumption.

South Africa was flagged as one of the country’s with high levels of alcohol consumption.

In order to inform and protect the public, the Department of Health has proposed that health warning labels be displayed on the containers of alcoholic drinks.

Last month, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Elizabeth Thabethe launched the national anti-alcohol abuse campaign.

Issues relating to alcohol abuse, she said at the time, were costing the state more than R9 billion per year.

For this reason her department and the National Liquor Authority embarked on the campaign to ensure the liquor industry promotes the ethos of social responsibility.

According to the deputy minister, the liquor industry records an annual turnover of over R30 billion.

She explained it was in the public's interest that government intervene to ensure liquor consumers make informed choices, through liquor regulators.

The campaign would be rolled-out across the country within eight months.

All provinces will host conferences, workshops and seminars to educate all stakeholders in line with the objectives of this campaign. - BuaNews