Author:
Barron, Kai (WZB Berlin)
Bradshaw, Debbie (SAMRC & University of Cape Town)
Parry, Charles D. H. (SAMRC & Stellenbosch University)
Dorrington, Rob (University of Cape Town)
Groenewald, Pam (SAMRC)
Laubscher, Ria (SAMRC)
Matzopoulos, Richard (SAMRC & University of Cape Town)
Abstract:
On July 13, 2020 a complete nation-wide ban was placed on the sale and transport of alcohol in South Africa. This paper evaluates the impact of this sudden and unexpected five-week alcohol prohibition on mortality due to unnatural causes. We find that the policy reduced the number of unnatural deaths by 21 per day, or approximately 740 over the five-week period. This constitutes a 14% decrease in the total number of deaths due to unnatural causes. We argue that this represents a lower bound on the impact of alcohol on short-run mortality, and underscores the severe influence that alcohol has on society—even in the short-run.
Keywords:
alcohol; mortality; economics; health; South Africa; COVID-19; violence
JEL-Classification:
I18; I12; K42