STRIVE is conducing a multi-country study of alcohol availability, advertising and impact on young people. For one aspect of the research, partners in India, South Africa and Tanzania are mapping the density of alcohol outlets in relation to the places where young people live and go to school and college.
The Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication is a STRIVE partner in South Africa. Soul City combines research with radio and television programming and community organising to run powerful campaigns on public health. With other STRIVE partners, Soul City is using GIS mapping to document the availability and marketing of alcohol in specific areas, and using photovoice to explore the impact of alcohol on the lives of young people in the same areas.
Increasingly used in health and development around the world, Photovoice is a participatory research methodology. It was created as a photography-based tool for 'participatory needs assessment' and supports community members to use images to communicate their priorities to decision makers.
Why use photovoice as a research methodology? This Learning Lab presents experiences and findings from two studies in Tanzania, detailing successes and challenges of this approach.
Youth and Alcohol Study: PhotoVoice exhibition in Tanzania
STRIVE partner Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research and Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit (NIMR Mwanza) held two photography exhibitions in Mwanza and Moshi.
Soul City discussion highlights the importance of limiting alcohol advertising
The Soul City Institute for Social Justice held a discussion at their offices in Dunkeld to talk about the harm of advertising alcohol to the youth and how this can lead to risky sexual behaviour.
Young, Drunk And At Risk: The Dangers In Youth Perceptions Of Alcohol
The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliances (SAAPA) and Soul City Institute have called for a ban on the marketing of alcohol products. Along with other advocacy groups and the Department of Health, they are lobbying for new amendments in the Liquor Act that prohibit the advertising of alcohol.
POLICY BRIEF: Alcohol marketing, youth and sexual health risks
Soul City Institute, under the auspice of the STRIVE research consortium, conducted a community-based study to assess the density of alcohol outlets in one urban and one rural community and explore young people’s perspectives on alcohol advertising, marketing and availability, as well as their drinking patterns and sexual health and safety.
The Star - March 2017 - There is an urgent need for more stringent legislation and monitoring of alcohol usage by South African youth.
Radio 702 | According to a Soul City study, young people in SA are heavily exposed to persuasive alcohol advertising.
The New Age - 28 February 2017
We don't have to have alcohol ads, says Soul City Institute
Alcohol advertisements, as well as taverns that operate near schools, tempt children to start drinking at a young age, according to a new study released by the Soul City Institute for Social Justice.
Booze adverts tempt kids
Bombarding young people with alcohol advertisements and operating taverns close to schools entices them to start drinking alcohol much earlier in their lives, a new study has found.
Booze adverts tempt kids
Bombarding young people with alcohol advertisements and operating taverns close to schools entices them to start drinking alcohol much earlier in their lives, a new study has found.
The Star - 24 February 2017
Alcohol ads luring SA youth to drink
Young people have admitted that alcohol advertisements entice them to drink, providing a further impetus for a proposed ban on alcohol advertising.
Study: Urban and rural youth heavily exposed to alcohol advertising
JOHANNESBURG – A study by the Soul City Institute has found that young people in both urban and rural areas are heavily exposed to persuasive and appealing alcohol advertising.
Soul City Institute for Health & Development Communication says the $106billion takeover of SABMiller will give AB Inbev access to even more cheap raw materials, labour and production processes given the discounts that will be made available to a company of this size. The same advantage will accrue to their future attempts to broker deals relating to marketing, sponsorship and manufacturing.
We live in a world where business opportunities often lie in increasing sales of products that cause harm.
[VIDEO] Savera Kalideen interview about proposed new alcohol regulations (ANN7 Vuka Africa)
Watch Soul City’s Savera Kalideen, on ANN7. She talks about the Department of Trade and Industry’s proposed new alcohol regulations as part of the National Liquor Norms and Standards 2014.
The Minister of Trade and Industry in South Africa recently announced proposed new alcohol legislation which has the industry in a furore. Amid acusations of being a South Africa being a nanny state, SAAPA Chairperson Mphonyane Mofokeng asks 'If the state doesn't do it, who will? This article was written for and published by City Press
Daily Sun - 28 May 2015
Rosebank Killarney Gazette - 29 May 2015
New regulations to creating a safer drinking environment
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will soon issue new alcohol regulations for public comment, which will start the process of implementing uniform regulations across the country.
The Department of Trade and Industry will soon issue new alcohol regulations for public comment to kick start the process of implementing uniform regulations across the country. This emerged at a well-attended panel discussion on the National Liquor Norms and Standards hosted by Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication on Wednesday.
The Times - 8 April 2015
New alcohol rules bring social cheer
The newly gazetted National Liquor Norms and Standards will promote safer social spaces for alcohol consumption and reduce alcohol-related violence, says the Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication.
South Africans have a huge drinking problem. We are the biggest boozers in Africa. (This article was written By Zinhle Maphumulo for and published by City Press.
Alcohol stokvel funds festive drinking
As the festive season approaches, some South Africans are likely to be spending year-end bonuses on booze in what the World Health Organisation (WHO) has dubbed one of Africa’s hardest-drinking nations. "It is the festive season, and with a large number of Christmas parties and the availability of bonuses, people will consume more alcohol,” says Savera Kalideen, advocacy manager of Phuza Wize, a campaign to encourage responsible drinking. (Article written by Health-e News, with additional reporting by Kagiso Modise)
The alcohol industry has reacted on the economic recession by taking various actions. A new EUCAM trend report aims to provide insight in the marketing tactics of the alcohol industry in this period. Moreover, it describes patterns in alcohol consumption during the recession period.
In a study of South African men who drink alcohol in informal drinking environments or "shebeens," researchers from The Miriam Hospital have found a high prevalence of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) that directly correlates to unprotected sex. Findings support the need for interventions targeting both alcohol and HIV-risk behaviors among South African men who drink alcohol in alcohol-serving venues. The study and its findings are published in the July issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Future Trends in Alcoholic Drinks: Positioning, Gender and Alternative Financing Models
Some interesting statistics on alcohol and alcohol use in South Africa.
College students are renowned for partying at the weekends, and this usually involves having a drink or two. But new research has found that this level of alcohol consumption may cause damage to DNA. This is according to a study published in the journal Alcohol.
Soul City’s Savera Kalideen together with the Department of Social Development’s Zane Dangor participated in a televised debate on the impact of the alcohol advertising legislation on Judge Dennis Davis’s show, “Judge for Yourself”.
Dr Vincent Maphai, South African Breweries executive director of corporate affairs and transformation, appears to be misleading Parliament shamelessly
Minister blasts alcohol industry’s ‘arrogance’
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Wednesday took aim at the alcohol industry for resisting government regulation, describing its stance as the "arrogance of money thinking it can direct events".
There is evidence that alcohol advertising increases the likelihood that young people start to drink, and that the overall amount that they drink, and the amount that they drink on one occasion, are greater
Cabinet has noted the mischievous media reports related to the Control of Marketing of Alcohol Beverages Bill . The media reports allege a division over the decision to approve the Bill.
I recently tweeted my views on the proposed ban on alcohol advertising. The ban, which I fully support, would see to it that alcohol no longer makes its regular appearance across multiple media channels.
Motsoaledi defends alcohol advert ban
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Tuesday defended the government’s controversial plans to ban alcohol advertising, saying that alcohol was a key risk factor in the growing burden of non-communicable diseases facing South Africa.
Soul City has welcomed cabinet’s decision to release the Draft Control of Marketing of Alcohol Beverages Bill for public consultation.
Cabinet approves bill banning alcohol ads
Cabinet has approved that a draft bill banning alcohol advertising should be gazetted for public comment, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini said on Friday.
