Alcohol statistics send alarming message

SOUTH Africans are classified among the world’s highest alcohol-consuming nations with one in four adults classified as a heavy drinker.

As prime-time for substance-fueled violence, road accidents and child neglect, social vices caused by alcohol consumption escalate over the festive season. At least 1,542 motorists were arrested countrywide for drunk driving between December 1 and 23.

The following statistics highlight the most glaring evidence of the problem’s recent acceleration:

• The volume of alcohol sold increased 12.4% between 2006-2007 and 2013-2014;
• Some 65,000 retail alcohol licences were granted in 2011, compared with 35,000 in 2003
• The World Health Organisation’s alcohol consumption forecast for 2015 was 21% higher than a decade ago.
• Research in 2014 put the economic cost of alcohol abuse at between 10% and 12% of GDP – or more than R300-billion.

According to scientists and activists, any efforts to tackle the problem are being bogged down by the bureaucratic process. A new act, passed in 2003 after a Constitutional Court tussle, applies only in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape, meaning six out of the nine provinces still apply the apartheid-era Liquor Act of 1989.

In May, Trade and Industry Minister, Rob Davies, published a new draft national liquor policy intended to lead to a new Liquor Act. Proposals included moving the legal drinking age to 21, holding manufacturers, suppliers and retailers liable for any harm caused by intoxicated persons and banning liquor outlets within 500m of schools and places of worship.

From his position as Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, sees the impact of alcohol abuse and the suffering it brings. After driving through Limpopo late on Christmas Day, he said he was shocked to see groups of drunken young people in almost every village. ‘I was deep in depression about where our country is heading to. I even stopped and said:

‘My God.’ That was during the night! They were just there to drink alcohol – young girls and young boys.’

The statistics on alcohol abuse by South Africans are even more alarming:

• According to the World Health Orginisation (WHO) we have the highest number of drunken driving accidents in the world; Around 58% of road deaths are linked to alcohol;
• We drink 53% more than the rest of Africa, according to Southern African Development Community research;
• The WHO ranks South Africa fourth highest internationally when it comes to the riskiest drinking patterns; and
• Research last year found that alcohol is the third largest contributor to premature death and disability, after unsafe sex and violence, both of which are influenced by drinking.

In June, the Department of Trade and Industry’s deputy director-general for consumer and corporate regulation, Zodwa Ntuli, told parliament that alcohol abuse was ‘draining the state’.

Savera Kalideen, advocacy manager at Phuza Wize, said the tangible and intangible annual costs of alcohol harm totalled R37.5-billion. ‘We only make R16-billion to R17-billion per annum in terms of taxes and excise duty… we are not gaining much out of the alcohol industry.’

Source: Times Live

ALSO READ: Managing your hangover this festive season

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