The government wants the liquor industry to pay a higher price for the "harm" it does to society.

It plans to impose higher application fees for liquor licences and to compel distributors to contribute to a national fund that will donate the money to charities.

Speaking at the opening of the 2nd Biennial Summit on Substance Abuse in Durban, President Jacob Zuma said the government was considering imposing further restrictions on the number of liquor outlets in an area and on the advertising of alcohol, and increasing excise taxes on alcohol.

"We must not make it easy for people to get to taverns and shebeens. When we look at these businesses, it is not good business if it affects the nation."

Zuma said the industry must seriously consider the impact of its adverts that "glorify alcohol and which portray it as providing the ultimate enjoyment and fancy lifestyle".

"If you visit KwaMashu, Umlazi or Soweto, you will notice many billboards that advertise alcohol, but if you go to Durban North you will not see one. I think that picture must change," he said.

The government had opened public debate on increasing the legal drinking age from 18 to 21.

"Whatever the outcome of this debate, it should enable us to raise awareness about the need to deal with the problem," Zuma said.

National police chief Bheki Cele declared his support for a crackdown on underage drinking.

"If you are giving alcohol to 15-, 16- and 17-year-olds we will shut you down and that's not negotiable.

"We want to support the proposal because [it is painful] to know that we have been so tolerant with alcohol," he said.

Cele mentioned a tavern in KwaZulu-Natal that let out rooms to pupils where they had sex and consumed alcohol.

"I can assure you that there is more than alcohol that is being sold in these places. We will shut down every illegal tavern in South Africa.

"People complain that we are too harsh and I tell them that we haven't even started yet," Cele said.

The summit will address liquor laws, which differ from province to province.

Deputy director-general in the Department of Trade and Industry Zodwa Ntuli said trading hours varied in provinces, and called for a harmonised national Liquor Act, which would improve enforcement.