South Africans view alcohol consumption as a pressing national issue

A recent poll has found that close to 96% of South Africans believe that alcohol consumption is a national problem and 73% are deeply concerned about alcohol-fuelled violence.

The poll results are contained in a statement released by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on behalf of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders (NHTKL) and other organisations. 

The statement said that the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance in South Africa (SAAPA-SA), in partnership with the NHTKL and supported by the RESET Alcohol Initiative, have launched a nationwide campaign to address the devastating impact of alcohol in South Africa.

The parties recently held a discussion on the matter. "The urgency of the discussion was underscored by newly released SAAPA-SA poll findings on alcohol consumption and harm in South Africa, revealing a sobering reality," said the statement.

It said these findings included that:

• 96% of South Africans believe alcohol is a national problem.
• 83% say alcohol is easy to access, and 55% say it is relatively inexpensive.
• 66% have personally experienced, or know someone who has experienced, alcohol-related harm, most commonly linked to health issues (61%) and violence (59%).
• 73% are deeply concerned about alcohol-fuelled violence, including domestic violence (90%), child abuse (89%), and male-on-male violence (84%).
• 91% link alcohol to road crashes and injuries.

It said the human cost is staggering, highlighting that:

• Alcohol harm costs the economy between 10–12% of GDP annually.
• South Africa records 102 alcohol-related deaths daily.
• 59% of car crash drivers test positive for alcohol.
• 60% of reported gender-based violence (GBV) cases involve a male partner who had been drinking.
• Young adults aged 25–34 are at the highest risk of dying from alcohol-related injuries.
• The country has the highest recorded rates of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders globally.

Kgoshigadi Ntwampe, Executive Member of the NHTKL, affirmed the House’s commitment to tackling alcoholism and its associated devastating social consequences.

Dereleen Elana James, Deputy Chairperson of the Multi-Party Women’s Caucus, said: “We have normalised the abnormal.”

The discussion also spotlighted the draft Liquor Amendment Bill of 2016, which has been under consideration for almost a decade, as a critical legislative tool with the potential to curb alcohol-related harm. The poll results further show overwhelming public demand for stronger alcohol policy measures:

• 80% believe addressing alcohol-related harm is a government responsibility.
• 85% support raising alcohol taxes if the revenue funds poverty reduction and housing initiatives.
• 78% back raising the legal drinking age.
• 67% support restricting alcohol advertising and sponsorships of sports, music, and cultural events.

Nomcebo Dlamini, SAAPA-SA campaign manager, emphasised the significance of the partnership with traditional leadership: “The NHTKL has hit the ground running on this issue. This is not just a public health crisis; it is a societal emergency that requires collective, urgent action.”

The statement said through this partnership, SAAPA-SA, the NHTKL, and civil society are calling on the government to urgently strengthen alcohol taxation and implement evidence-based measures as part of a comprehensive approach to saving lives, reducing violence, protecting children, and building healthier communities.

THE MERCURY