Binge Drinking in South Africa: 4 Facts You Need to Know
Up to 62,000 South Africans die from alcohol-related causes every year, and binge drinking is behind the majority of those deaths.
South Africa ranks as the third biggest drinking nation in Africa and the 19th globally, according to the World Health Organisation. Binge drinking, defined as five or more drinks for men and four or more for women in a single sitting, is the dominant pattern of alcohol use in the country. Binge drinking practically refers to getting drunk.
Alcohol is the most commonly used mind-altering substance in South Africa. Most people do not think of it as a drug, but binge drinking causes harm that extends far beyond the drinker, reaching families and workplaces across entire communities.
Binge drinking does not automatically mean you are an alcoholic, but it raises your risk of developing alcohol dependence. To understand where your drinking falls on the spectrum, take our free self-assessment or read about the difference between casual drinking and alcoholism.
What Is Binge Drinking?
Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks (for men) and four or more drinks (for women) in a single sitting, typically within two hours. Heavy binge drinking means three or more of these episodes within two weeks. For a detailed breakdown of drinking levels, see our guide to how many drinks are too many.
Here are 4 scary facts about binge drinking in South Africa
1. A quarter to a half of South Africa’s drinking population are binge drinkers
Depending on the source of information, between 25 and 50% of people who consume alcohol in South Africa are classified as binge drinkers. Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for 2015 ranked South Africa as the third biggest drinking nation in Africa and the 19th biggest drinking nation in the world. The WHO found that more than a quarter of South Africans who drink alcohol are binge drinkers, consuming 60 grams or more of pure alcohol in one sitting within a 30-day timespan.
According to a document compiled by South Africa’s Department of Trade Industry and Competition, a review of drinking practices in 20 African countries found that 23% of South Africans had consumed alcohol in the previous week. But nearly half of these drinkers (48%) had binged – drinking five or more units of alcohol on one or more occasions.
Of the 48% surveyed, 29% were categorised as heavy drinkers, consuming 15 or more units in the previous week. Binge drinking was five times higher on weekends compared to weekdays. The rate of weekly binge drinking among drinkers in South Africa sits close to 50%, compared to a global average of 11.5%.
2. Almost 70% of high-school learners in Gauteng have been drunk
A study conducted on learners in Gauteng found that 66% of learners – almost seven in 10 – had been drunk, in other words had participated in binge drinking. The majority of these learners were in grades 10, 11 and 12.
Harmful drinking patterns are rising among adolescents in South Africa. Binge drinking at a young age has a direct negative impact on school results. Two thirds of the learners in the study admitted their parents or caregivers did not know about their drinking.
3. Between 29 000 and 62 000 deaths per year are caused by alcohol consumption
Up to 62 000 deaths per year are caused by alcohol consumption with the vast majority caused by episodes of binge drinking, according to data from 2020. An estimated half a million people die in South Africa annually, according to 2018 mortality data from Statistics South Africa. This means alcohol causes up to 13% of all deaths in the country.
Alcohol-related deaths include liver disease and road traffic fatalities. Violence, linked to drinking, adds to the toll. For a full breakdown of the health consequences of heavy drinking, see our guide to diseases related to alcohol abuse.
4. South Africa’s alcohol industry relies on binge drinking
According to research published in 2018, the vast majority (93.9%) of the absolute alcohol sold was consumed by heavy drinkers or binge drinkers. The research was conducted on a sample of drinkers in the country’s capital Tshwane. Just over half of all of the people in this study were classified as heavy drinkers.
The researchers concluded that the alcohol industry’s revenue in South Africa depends on heavy drinking. This directly contradicts the industry’s claim that most drinkers consume alcohol responsibly.
Binge drinking does not have to become a pattern.
Changes Rehab Johannesburg offers medically supervised detox and a structured recovery programme for alcohol dependence. Call 081-444-7000 or email [email protected] for a free, confidential assessment.
Binge drinking in South Africa causes up to 62,000 deaths a year. Learn who is most at risk and where to get help in Johannesburg.. Changes team counsellors are here to help you.Binge Drinking in South Africa: 4 Facts That Show the Scale
