By Maxine Becket
South African Breweries (SAB) had a ‘You Decide’ campaign with residents in an attempt to curb underage drinking.
“We know it’s an issue that affects our community and that is why we want to get the community involved in addressing underage drinking,” Fezeka Mamabolo from SAB said.
The legal age to consume alcohol is 18-years-old not only because it is considered an age where youth are thought to make responsible decisions but also because at that age, the brain is fully developed.
“Drinking at an early age affects brain development, as SAB we can’t sit back and watch youth drinking, it is not what we stand for,” Mamabolo said.
She said that it is important to have sober minded communities.
Pledges were made by parents, liquor traders and youth to drink responsibly, not send underage children to buy alcohol and not to sell alcohol to underage children.
“We want the community to come up with solutions to put an end to underage drinking.
“Parents are encouraged to discuss alcohol consumption with their children,” said Mamabolo.
SAB shared the following statistics with youth to show them the impact of underage drinking:
– One in two teenagers in the average South African home is a user of alcohol.
– 15% of boys and 8% of girls said that they’d had their first drink before age 13.
– 60% of Grade eight-11 pupils who abused alcohol in a local research study had to repeat their grade.
– Having five or more drinks in a single session is considered to be binge drinking and makes you a problem drinker.
– Some youth start abusing alcohol from 12 and younger.
– Teenagers who drink are far more likely to try illegal drugs. Research shows that 67% of teens who drink before the age of 15 will go on to use illegal drugs. They are 22 times more likely to use marijuana, and 50 times more likely to use cocaine.
– Teens who use alcohol are three times more likely to be involved in violent crime.
