Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe is appealing to all South Africans not to consume alcohol or sell alcohol to children during the month of October.
The call comes as Tolashe will be commemorating World No
Alcohol Day on Wednesday in KwaZulu-Natal. The day aims to highlight the
effects of alcohol abuse, binge drinking amongst South African youth and the
negative effect of selling alcohol to children.
PICTURE: BBP Law Attorney'sWorld No Alcohol Day was proposed by India during the World
Health Assembly in Geneva in 2008, where 193 World Health Organization (WHO)
members signed a resolution to reduce alcohol-related harms.
This year’s theme: “Say No to alcohol and selling alcohol
to minors is a crime”, seeks to raise awareness about the risks associated with
alcohol misuse and abuse, and the dangers of selling alcohol to minors which
can lead to underage and binge drinking.
Sweetwaters was identified as the place to host the event
given its high rate of alcohol abuse, crime and teenage pregnancy. This community also experienced a tragedy
last year when 12 young people abusing alcohol and drugs were burned to death. South
Africa also witnessed a tragic incident in Scenery Park, in East London, where
21 young lives were lost at the Enyobeni Tavern.
According to the Social Development Department, alcohol is
the most misused legal drug in South Africa, and this has a negative impact on
the fabric of many communities, especially children and young people.
South Africa has one of the highest rates of alcohol
consumption globally with alcohol consumption per capita in the country having
risen over the last 10 years. The
department further highlighted that alcohol use plays a role in about half of
all non-natural deaths. It is involved in 75% of homicide cases; 60% of
automobile accidents; and 24% of vehicle deaths and injuries.
Minister Tolashe said alcohol is the third-largest
contributor to death and disability after unsafe sex/sexually transmitted
infections and interpersonal violence, both of which are themselves influenced
by alcohol consumption as alcohol affects sexual and violent behaviour.
“Alcohol use has been recognised as a major contributor to
the global burden of disease, with an even greater detrimental effect in low-
and middle-income countries and people living in poverty. In total, more than
13 million disability-adjusted life years, or 7% of the total disease burden in
South Africa, is attributed to alcohol.”
She said young people aged 15 to 29 have the greatest
burden of disease attributable to alcohol use.
Although, men generally use and abuse alcohol more frequently and
experience a greater burden of disease than women, a significant proportion of
young women in South Africa are also using alcohol.
Women in disadvantaged communities with comparable alcohol
use to men are significantly less likely to obtain treatment. Alcohol use in
young women is associated with high rates of multiple comorbidities including
risky sexual practices, poor adherence to HIV medications, depression, and
intimate partner violence (IPV).
Tolashe cautioned that alcohol use among parents/care
givers can have long-standing negative effects on their children and their
ability to thrive given their homes are often less organised, routines are more
chaotic and maternal adherence to health regimens suffer.
“Alcohol use in young women, results in many children in South Africa born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) which could lead to damage to the fetus among pregnant women. It is for this reason that during September, which is known as Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) month, the Department of Social Development conducted awareness campaigns in provinces highlighting the dangers of drinking while pregnant,” the Minister said.
Data from the 2016 South African National Demographic and
Health Survey has found that at least one in every four young people had
consumed alcohol by the ages of 15–19.
“This is the reason the department, towards the commemoration of World No Alcohol Day is having Youth Dialogues to highlight the dangers of binge drinking and that alcohol should not be sold to minors,” the Minister said.
Done by: Mitchum George
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