The consumption of alcohol is a phenomenon found throughout all classes of society and it can lead to serious health issues as well as negative social impacts.

To address this issue, the Ministry of Health used the recent event of World Health Day in Apia to launch a National Alcohol Control Policy.

It is set to complement the 2011 Liquor Act enacted by the Parliament, which, according to the new policy “only intends to promote and encourage responsibility in manufacture, import, sale and consumption of liquor with the help of liquor licenses”. 

Instead, the all new policy’s main goal is to reduce the risk of a harmful use of alcoholic beverages in Samoa by increasing the public awareness of the consequences caused by consumption. 

To reach this goal, the policy supports a stronger regulation regarding the advertisement of liquor, in particular those aimed at young people. 

Furthermore, the introduction of community programmes aim to prevent accidents caused by driving under the influence of alcohol.

The policy also speaks out in favour of a possible revision of the existing alcohol taxation system in Samoa, which might lead to a reduction of harmful use of alcohol in society.