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A draft bill regarding alcohol advertising in South Africa is being considered, the health department said.
"As is the case with all bills, the Control of Marketing of Alcoholic Beverages Bill will go through various stages of consultation... before it is released for public comment," spokesman Fidel Hadebe said.
Business Day reported on Monday that the draft bill, which prohibits the advertising and promotion of alcoholic products, was being reworked behind closed doors by a government task team.
According to the report, the bill, which was prematurely leaked into the public domain, had caused alarm in industry circles because of its heavy-handed approach.
Impact of alcohol on public health
Hadebe said the department wanted to caution the industry against reacting to leaked documents.
"These may in some instances be out of touch with the consultation processes which the department remains committed to."
He said Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi had expressed his concern about the impact of alcohol on the public's health.
"The advertising and marketing of alcohol beverages is just one of the many avenues that are being considered as part of addressing this challenge," said Hadebe.
(Sapa, April 2012)
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