Binge-drinking more prevalent than admitted

ONE in seven adults admits to being a binge-drinker‚ but economists say the problem is likely to be much worse.

Based on admissions in a survey of 20 000 adults‚ UCT researchers say 4.8 billion alcoholic drinks were consumed in 2014-15.

But in the same period‚ the South African Revenue Service collected excise duties on four times as many drinks.

And an evaluation this year found that only 14.6% of alcohol consumption was accounted for in admissions during the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS).

Nicole Vellios and Corné van Walbeek‚ from the University of Cape Town’s Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit‚ said the huge drinking problem revealed in their research strengthened the argument for strong‚ evidence-based policies that reduce the detrimental effects of alcohol use.

Writing in the January edition of the South African Medical Journal‚ they said: “The alcohol industry argues that it does not encourage harmful use of alcohol.

“Since a very large proportion of alcohol consumed in South Africa is consumed hazardously‚ with associated detrimental consequences‚ the industry’s statements sound hollow‚ since they depend on these drinkers for profits.”

Journal editor Bridget Farham calls in an editorial for a crackdown on alcohol advertising.

“If we are going to ban advertising and sponsorship by tobacco companies‚ alcohol should be subject to the same scrutiny,” Farnham said.

Vellios and Van Walbeek said the 2014-15 NIDS results found that half of men and 20% of women drink. Binge-drinking – defined as five or more drinks a day – was admitted by 14% of adults.

SOUTH Africans, to appropriate an oft-told joke, have a drinking problem: we can’t afford it.

Told with glass in hand in a suitably social setting, it’s a punchline worth a snigger at best, even if the truth is far from it.

Results of a newly-published paper by University of Cape Town researchers suggest we are only too happy to pay good money for our favourite tipple, and in immodest quantities as well.

Some 14% of 20 000 adults surveyed admitted to binge-drinking, defined as five drinks or more a day.

The numbers have experts worried, especially since they believe the true extent is far higher, taking into account the fact that the government received excise duties four times more than those based on the 4.8 billion alcoholic drinks consumed by survey respondents.

In the South African context, booze is big business.

According to a report in The Herald today, the taxman can expect a total windfall of R20.8-billion this year, thanks to alcohol sales.

The industry contributes 3.9% to GDP, or R139-billion.

Many livelihoods depend on it.

On the other hand, we are told that the costs of drinking are three times higher.

These findings are likely to spur government into action through legislation, in much the same way it targeted – and continues to aim at – the tobacco industry.

In which case, a big battle lies ahead, with the recent adoption of a sugar tax perhaps providing a foretaste.

But if government wants to change the way South Africans view alcohol, it will need a more thoughtful approach than topping up sin taxes each year.

Clearly, this tactic hasn’t worked and one wonders how it will serve the anti-sugar drive.

Alcohol abuse is a national scourge –- our roads and hospitals are testament.

But officials must stop deluding themselves. Paying for it has never been a problem.