Archive post. Issued by SAMNET on 7 March 2026 and published here as part of SAMNET’s advocacy archive. The account below is a single consumer report received by SAMNET. It has not been independently verified, and SAMNET’s call is for the authorities to investigate it.
SAMNET has received a disturbing report from a consumer who placed an online order for soft drinks and found that a can of a 4% alcohol ready-mixed drink had been added to the collection box, carrying a sticker reading “This freebie is a vibe.” It did not appear on the invoice.
Why this matters
In a country struggling with alcoholism and underage drinking, putting alcohol into a household as an unrequested freebie is irresponsible and dangerous. Alcohol is a major factor in gender-based violence, in vehicle and pedestrian deaths, and in violent and petty crime — and “mix” products, with their fruit and “zero” messaging, are precisely the format being used to reach young people.
Nobody ordering soft drinks has consented to alcohol arriving in the box. In a household with a recovering addict, or with children collecting the order, that is not a marketing gimmick.
If the practice is as described, it would fall foul of the legislation, regulation and codes of practice governing the promotion of alcohol.
What we are asking
We need to hold corporates to a higher standard. A business cannot market itself on social responsibility and ethics while remaining incurious about its own conduct.
SAMNET calls on the authorities to investigate, and to ensure there are consequences for any person or company acting illegally or irresponsibly — both in this instance and as a deterrent to others who may be doing the same.
We call on the public to raise their concern with politicians, legislators, civil society organisations, religious leaders, provincial and national ministers, and community activists. We need strict control of alcohol advertising, promotion, sponsorship and access in our communities — especially where the most vulnerable are: children, young people, low-income households and the unemployed.
Contact SAMNET on info@samnet.co.za or WhatsApp 084 333 3979.
Related
Why and How to Complain About Alcohol Advertising · Using a University Name to Add Credibility to Alcohol “Research” · Knowing Our Laws
Shared by the South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) in the interest of addressing the harms of alcohol in South Africa.