ONE out of every two teenagers in the average South African home is a user of alcohol and research shows teenagers who use alcohol are three times more likely to be involved in violent crime and 50 times more likely to use cocaine.
This is according to the South African Breweries (SAB).
In an attempt to curb underage drinking government announced it is considering raising the legal age to consume alcohol from 18 to 21.
This forms part of Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s measure to reduce the harm caused by alcohol consumption.
A recent study commissioned by Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) shows young people consumed liquor more than the adult population in the province . Subsequent to this, ECLB initiated various education programmes to raise awareness about the dangers of underage drinking.
The communications manager of ELCB, Mgwebi Msiya, said the board was investing time and resources in ensuring they vigorously fought the scourge of underage drinking.
“We will roll out awareness programmes that target schools which we have identified with the assistance of the department of education, which had been reported to be having prevalence of liquor abuse,” said Msiya.
While the board welcomes any initiative that seeks to alleviate the problem of underage drinking, Msiya said they doubted increasing the legal age would have much impact.
“Monitoring this behaviour has always proven very difficult. We strongly believe it is through education that we can change or influence our young people against underage drinking.
“Our view is that increasing the legal age may have an unintended outcome of increased abuse of liquor,” said Msiya
According to the South Africans against Drunk and Driving (SADD) organisation, chances of becoming addicted to alcohol are higher when started at an early age, with a 40% chance if started under the age of 15, 20% if started under 21 and 10% if started over 21 years.
Meanwhile the department of social development in the Eastern Cape is strongly behind the increase of the age limit.
“If increasing the age limit will help solve this problem that is destroying our youth, we as the department are willing to try it out but we also want stricter enforcement in the current legal age,” said the department’s spokesperson Gcobani Maswana.
Maswana also added government, the liquor board and community members needed to be stricter on who they awarded operating licences to.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said research conducted by the SAPS indicated the majority of murders originate from assault and contributing to this is the abuse of substances such as alcohol and drugs.
“SAPS are urging liquor operators to comply with the conditions of their liquor licences. We’ re also urging community leaders and parents to support the SAPS in the fight against liquor abuse,” said Soci.
In the last financial year, 465 illegal operators were prosecuted in the Eastern Cape, while by midterm this year, 136 had been prosecuted. —
50% of SA teens consume alcohol
This is according to the South African Breweries (SAB).
In an attempt to curb underage drinking government announced it is considering raising the legal age to consume alcohol from 18 to 21.
This forms part of Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s measure to reduce the harm caused by alcohol consumption.
A recent study commissioned by Eastern Cape Liquor Board (ECLB) shows young people consumed liquor more than the adult population in the province . Subsequent to this, ECLB initiated various education programmes to raise awareness about the dangers of underage drinking.
The communications manager of ELCB, Mgwebi Msiya, said the board was investing time and resources in ensuring they vigorously fought the scourge of underage drinking.
“We will roll out awareness programmes that target schools which we have identified with the assistance of the department of education, which had been reported to be having prevalence of liquor abuse,” said Msiya.
While the board welcomes any initiative that seeks to alleviate the problem of underage drinking, Msiya said they doubted increasing the legal age would have much impact.
“Monitoring this behaviour has always proven very difficult. We strongly believe it is through education that we can change or influence our young people against underage drinking.
“Our view is that increasing the legal age may have an unintended outcome of increased abuse of liquor,” said Msiya
According to the South Africans against Drunk and Driving (SADD) organisation, chances of becoming addicted to alcohol are higher when started at an early age, with a 40% chance if started under the age of 15, 20% if started under 21 and 10% if started over 21 years.
Meanwhile the department of social development in the Eastern Cape is strongly behind the increase of the age limit.
“If increasing the age limit will help solve this problem that is destroying our youth, we as the department are willing to try it out but we also want stricter enforcement in the current legal age,” said the department’s spokesperson Gcobani Maswana.
Maswana also added government, the liquor board and community members needed to be stricter on who they awarded operating licences to.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Sibongile Soci said research conducted by the SAPS indicated the majority of murders originate from assault and contributing to this is the abuse of substances such as alcohol and drugs.
“SAPS are urging liquor operators to comply with the conditions of their liquor licences. We’ re also urging community leaders and parents to support the SAPS in the fight against liquor abuse,” said Soci.
In the last financial year, 465 illegal operators were prosecuted in the Eastern Cape, while by midterm this year, 136 had been prosecuted. —
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