Patterns of alcohol consumption in South Africa: implications of harmful drinking for families

Abstract

The chapter draws from the 2014 South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) module administered in January-March 2015. These alcohol questions form part of the European Social Survey (ESS) module on the social determination of health that was included in SASAS 2014 with the support of the Newton Fund. The module design thus forms part of a broader initiative to better capture alcohol consumption patterns for comparative analysis. The innovative use of show-cards depicting various alcohol beverages in recognisable packaging and containers enabled respondents to better identify the size and type of alcohol they consumed ??? thus ensuring more accurate recording of not only the type of alcohol that individuals consumed, but importantly, the volume of alcohol consumed. Included in this description is the use of less-commercial drinking vessels, such as jars of beer, and the consumptions of traditional sorghum beer.