CHOOSE BETWEEN BEER AND BRAINS

Students urged to focus more on their books than watering holes near their places of learning

“A sober mind leads towards a bright future.”

This was the message sent to students from Eastern Cape tertiary institutions, who have been urged to cut down on binge drinking following alarming reports of an increase in alcohol abuse by students in the province.

Students have been urged to focus more on their books by shying away from spending the bulk of their allowances in watering holes surrounding their places of learning.

On Tuesday, finance, economic development, environmental affairs & tourism MEC Oscar Mabuyane pleaded with students to leave the bottle to the elders and instead focus on their studies.

Mabuyane made these remarks during the launch of the Institutions of Higher Learning anti-alcohol abuse education campaign at the East London ICC.

Mabuyane said a recent socio-economic study commissioned by the Eastern Cape Liquor Board indicates that there had been an increase in the abuse of alcohol, particularly among school-going youth.

“Some studies have shown that the rate of alcohol consumption increases among high school learners when they reach university level. A decision was therefore taken to focus on anti-alcohol abuse at those tertiary institutions,” he said.

“We are calling on our young people, trying to introduce the culture of responsibility, telling them that a sober mind leads towards a bright future”.

University of Fort Hare’s projects and entertainment officer, Sihle Keto, said they had introduced awareness programmes aimed at alleviating substance abuse.

“Alcohol is the cause of many of the problems that we have. There are incidents of rape and fights on campus, which we are trying to keep at a minimal level,” Keto said.

Rhodes University SRC president Samkelo Mngadi said they were promoting a culture of no-alcohol events at the university in Makanda.

“We had issues of binge drinking, but we have programmes to ensure students have a well balanced life in university through projects.”

Walter Sisulu University SRC president at the Buffalo City campus, Vuyo Pakana, said: “As student leaders we need to open platforms for students to get to interact on these issues.”

Eastern Cape Liquor board chair Professor Lindelwa Majova-Songca, said they would be visiting tertiary institutions to create alcohol abuse awareness.