Chief Specialist Scientist: Mental Health Alcohol Substance Use & Tobacco Research Unit, SAMRC (part time) | Independent Alcohol/Drug Research/Policy Consultant
Cape Town
Joined August 2013
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Probably a clever choice given the current US administration, but I do wonder if this is not a job for a younger person (not someone who is 78 years old). "Roelf Meyer appointment draws Afrikaner backlash but diplomats foresee no US resistance" share.google/BiJUzKkVxjFiVZM…
South Africa’s health system is paying the price for weak, poorly enforced alcohol control — and it’s costing lives and resources. Stronger policy action can turn this around. @MRCza @HealthZA @thedsd @thedtic @TreasuryRSA @Saapa7 @HealthPromoSA #PublicHealth #AlcoholPolicy
Health profile of public servants warrants this level of increase? time to push for lifestyle changes in this sub-population- healthy eating, exercise, & addressing drinking/smoking. "Public service unions angry over 9.8% hike in medical aid contributions" share.google/ffdiYF93ZZbzrlx…
#SONA2026: South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, links alcohol to child stunting, violence & crashes; backs outlet limits, shorter hours, smaller containers, ad curbs, excise/MUP & illicit trade action @MRCza @Saapa7 @HealthZA @PublicHealthSA @The_DSD @BigAexposed
Agree . One wonders if they have been drinking. If they don't sit down and keep quiet after being instructed to do so arrange for the police to arrest them on arrival.
According to South African aviation law, disruptive behaviour on an aircraft is illegal.
Shouting, chanting, singing, dancing in aisles and turning a flight into a political rally interferes with crew duties and the orderly conduct of a flight.
Protecting passengers is the airline’s legal responsibility.
@FlySafair should’ve shut it down immediately. Given clear instructions, enforced compliance, documented the incident, and called for police on arrival.
Passengers paid thousands for a peaceful flight. An aircraft isn’t a protest venue.
Adding additional wealth taxes in South Africa would be dumb - it just divides the same pie into smaller wedges - rather make the pie bigger through cutting business red-tape and encourage wealthy to set up businesses here to create jobs businesstech.co.za/news/fina…
Bizarre! firstpost.com/world/us-compl…
Illicit alcohol isn’t driven by tax hikes but by weak enforcement. Industry inflates the problem—stronger regulation beats keeping taxes low. iol.co.za/news/2026-01-18-sa…
Political (business) interference is science is not acceptable and will cost lives! reuters.com/business/healthc…
Just think what could be done with the money if this spending was cut by 50%. Time for South African drinkers to have a re-think! @DGMurrayTrust. South Africans spent R1bn a day on alcohol before New Year; campaign warns of predictable harm share.google/QRz7HhLS4kc0Y5K…
Do you think it is helpful to provide a free beer (looks like 500ml glasses) to someone who buys 2? To reduce alcohol harms these practices should be stopped. We have seen too many alcohol-related drink driving deaths over the past few weeks ....@wcla @WesternCapeGov
Another supposed preventable alcohol-related death this week. One of the ~100 alcohol-related deaths in South Africa EVERY day! Off-duty LEAP officer killed while assisting at accident scene on Jakes Gerwel Drive share.google/JCuMy0MGQTmg2pK…
Pairing a major global beer producer with motorsport in a country with extremely high levels of alcohol-related road injuries and deaths is just "crazy". @geordinhl @TrafficSA @EWNTraffic @MRCza @cityofctts @Saapa7 @HealthZA @BigAexposed @Movendi_Int heineken.howler.co.za/events…
Burton, R., Theron, M., Semple, S., Shield, K., & Parry, C.D.H. (2025). Mind the Gap: Rethinking Global Alcohol Metrics in High-Abstention Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Lancet Global Health. doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(2…
Chicago Sat 25 October: US federal border control agents brutally assault a 67 year old US citizen runner on his way home from a run. The world needs to know! @WorldAthletics independent.co.uk/news/world…
Excellent idea and something we should consider in South Africa: Only allow home deliveries of alcohol between 10am and 10pm and have a 2 hour wait between the order being made and the delivery. @Saapa7 @the_dtic @The_DSD @HealthZA @HealthPromoSA fare.org.au/act-the-first-to…
Let's just be honest, this is alcohol advertising & these busses should not be on our streets normalising alcohol use for children. It's time there were more restrictions on alcohol advertising, ideally limiting advertising to points of sale only as per 2013 draft legislation
Late evening stunt driving, burnout and donuts on Beach Rd! Who needs Formula 1/E? What about effects on nearby residents/animals, other road users & safety of bystanders? Not the time or place! What we need is more proactive policing & alternative venues. @CapeTalk @geordinhl
A good ruling and another indictment against ANC cadres and @MpumalangaGov: R400-million ruling a 'wake-up call' for the state | George Herald ..and who pays/loses - the citizens of SA? Shame on you! share.google/kqhnC6jflHP5YFL…
