Easy access to alcohol consistently linked to higher incidences of GBV

Higher alcohol outlet density, longer trading hours and widespread unlicensed alcohol sales contribute to an increased risk of domestic conflict and violence towards women and children.

This is among the key findings of a study investigating the link between alcohol availability and gender-based violence (GBV). The study – a joint project by the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) and the Wits School of Public Health – was conducted across eight communities in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana and Namibia.

It found that unlicensed alcohol retailers in the study communities vastly outnumbered licensed outlets as only 33% of the outlets across the four countries were licensed as captured in official records.

“National liquor databases, information in the public domain (searched using Google), business registers and police records only delivered 348 licensed outlets, while a field verification and information directly from the communities recorded a total of 787 outlets,” says Aadielah Maker Diedericks, SAAPA’s secretary-general and a lead researcher of the study.

Outlets often operated well beyond their licensed trading hours with some, particularly those in Botswana and Namibia, operating on a 24-hour basis. This impacted on the quality of life of residents, leading for example to a lack of sleep and increased risk of crime.

The study also found that non-compliance with licensing conditions and laws have been normalised within the communities. Residents reported “limited inspections and inconsistent application of trading hours restrictions”, while enforcement officials cited resource constraints as one of the reasons for these shortcomings.

Among the recommendations put forward by the study is the need for greater community participation in the awarding of licences. A serious obstacle to this is that community members do not know what mechanisms are available to them for public participation.

“We further recommended that the awarding of liquor licenses in residential areas urgently be reviewed. Our research found that high concentrations of alcohol outlets in and around residential areas corresponded to higher levels of GBV, crime and family disruptions,” states Maker Diedericks.

The researchers also called for more effective enforcement through the adequate allocation of human as well as financial resources.

“Targeted enforcement against unlicensed outlets is essential to reducing informal alcohol availability.

“However, enforcement approaches should recognise the socio-economic drivers of the informal trade, namely unemployment and limited livelihood options. Where feasible, regulatory action should be accompanied by pathways for formalisation or alternative livelihood support to avoid deepening economic precarity,” concluded the study.

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About SAAPA SA

The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance South Africa (SAAPA SA) is a civil society coalition advocating for evidence-based alcohol policies that reduce harm, protect vulnerable populations and promote healthier communities across South Africa. For more information, visit: https://truecostofalcohol.africa.