SAB starts alcohol abuse mentorship

THE SOUTH African Breweries has launched two new initiatives to address the harm caused by alcohol abuse.

18+ Be the Mentor Campaign which is a refreshed narrative of “Be part of the change” aims to combat underage drinking by encouraging young adults to be mentors and role models to teenagers.

“The two initiatives were a critical part of the company’s drive to tackle the harmful use of alcohol,” said Ricardo Tadeu, Zone President of Africa: Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) and SAB.

In a programme run last year by SAB 80 adults volunteered to mentor over a 180 youngsters and this resulted in a 92% reduction in stopping or preventing underage drinking.

Prior to this, more than 7 000 South Africans took the pledge to be a mentor to someone in their family or community. The new, refreshed campaign aims to build on the successful impact of the last programme.

“Ultimately, we want people in communities, in civil society, in business, those who have jobs and those who don’t, those who are students and those who are retired, to come forward and start a movement to become a mentor,” Tadeu said.

During the launch of the campaign the KZN Department of Economic Development and Tourism SAB announced its commitment to invest R13 million in the province to improve township taverns.

More than R40 million will also be invested to improve the infrastructure of township taverns in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Western Cape to ensure patrons are safe and secure.