South Africa: Government planning to tighten beer legislation

South Africa’s government wants to tighten the screws on the production and sale of malt and sorghum beer, including traditional African beer, Eyewitness News reported on July 19.

It’s planning to make amendments to the Liquor Products Bill that are intended to make it easier to prosecute those who add contaminants to home-brewed beer.

Fermented cane sugar products marketed as sales, will also be regulated.

It’s been a year since the government first mooted amendments to the Liquor Product Act that will tighten control over alcohol products, their composition and properties.

Currently, the sale of ale is unregulated, something that is set to change.

Now there will be a definition for beer, traditional beer and other fermented beverages, giving the Department of Health and the SAPS more clarity on what products are covered by legislation.

The Medical Research Council’s Charles Parry says that the legislation is a step in the right direction.

“This particular legislation won’t necessarily get to the heart of most of the problems in South Africa which are industrially produced malt beer which is being heavily marketed.”

The amendments also prescribe the process for producing beer, including traditional African beer.

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