SAB "helps" with alcohol syndrome?

The Department of Social Development and SA Breweries are talking about how to tackle the high incidence of foetal alcohol syndrome.

The syndrome - which includes mental incapacity of children whose mothers drank alcohol while pregnant - is a big problem in Northern Cape and Western Cape, where a study has found 122 of 1000 children affected by it. (That makes it a whole 12%!)

Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini, SAB executives, academics and other experts are holding a two-day indaba in Boksburg, on the East Rand, to develop ways of dealing with the problem.

Dlamini said: "While aware that the SAB is in the business of selling liquor for profit, we welcome this partnership, because it shows that they have put national interest ahead of making profit at the expense of the people." OH FUCKING REALLY? 30000 shebeens in the Western Cape! Where did all that come from?

SAB's executive director for corporate affairs and transformation, Vincent Maphai, said: "This partnership between industry, experts and the government allows for the best utilisation of skills and resources to drive a meaningful and effective impact on the lives of South Africans affected by the abuse of alcohol."

The department and SAB said yesterday the indaba would try to "generate terms of reference for the appointment of an NGO to rollout the agreed programme [for fighting the syndrome]". (from TimesLive)

And in other news... SAB's earning rise by 16%

The world's second-biggest brewer, which earns more than 80% of its profits from emerging markets, said Africa and Asia had fully recovered, while high unemployment in mature markets was holding back any upturn in beer sales.

Chief executive Graham Mackay yesterday painted a picture of a two-speed world, with beer volumes growing in Africa and Asia and recovering in Latin America after a tax rise in Colombia, while the western world saw little improvement. (also from TimesLive)