Industry Contribution
SA YOUTH – IS ALCOHOL A CHALLENGE ?
By Rhys Evans , Director at Alco-Safe
With Youth Day in June , South Africans commemorated the lives lost in the Soweto student uprisings , and the role played by the youth in our country ’ s liberation .
It was also a time to reflect on the challenges and issues faced by today ’ s youth . One such issue is excessive alcohol consumption , that South Africa is well known for , and our drinking culture and youth are no strangers to overindulgence .
The challenge with this is that excessive drinking can lead to dependency and impact negatively on our youth ’ s family lives , relationships and even work responsibilities . For safety reasons , employers need to ensure that younger employees are not arriving at work still intoxicated from the night before , especially where operating heavy or electrical machinery as this could lead to an accident . This raises another challenge : how do we ensure that our youth is drinking responsibly ?
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM ? Numerous prohibitions by the government during the Covid-19 lockdown have shown that South Africa has an extremely problematic relationship with alcohol . Alcohol is the primary substance of abuse in the country , as between 7.5 % and 31.5 % of South Africans already have a drinking problem or are at risk of developing one , according to the International Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals .
Alcohol imposes an enormous toll on South African society through associated economic , social and health costs – the burden of disease for alcohol is estimated at up to 12 % of our gross domestic product from published statistics by the International Journal of Health Policy and Management . There is an undeniable link between substance abuse and social disadvantage , which includes low educational attainment and increased difficulty in finding and holding a job , along with financial instability and poverty .
It is a vicious cycle , because socio-economic factors such as poverty , inequality and unemployment are key indicators for the increased use of substances and the development of dependence disorders . While the age restriction for alcohol purchase and consumption is 18 , there are no proper measures to ensure adherence and unregulated outlets operate where there
Creative Commons | AIAC Interactive Agency is a demand , which means that underage drinking is a massive problem too . The problem doesn ’ t end at 18 , however , and the definition of youth extends to the age of 35 which means it ’ s quite a large portion of our population under discussion and at risk of alcohol-related hardships .
A MINDSET SHIFT IS REQUIRED FOR ALL GENERATIONS While there is a section of the younger generation that is moving toward a healthier , more sober-curious lifestyle , a large portion of the population is still in the mindset where excessive consumption is acceptable , sometimes even humorous . There is an increased level of responsible decision making in this younger generation , and many make use of driver services like Uber instead of getting behind the wheel after a few beers . While this is progress , it ’ s not enough . The burden of disease will continue to escalate if there is no action taken against the underage drinking , especially in respect of those unlicensed liquor outlets that meet their demand .
Excessive alcohol consumption by the younger generation can have a negative impact on their work .
www . hvacronline . co . za RACA Journal I September 2021 53