JOHANNESBURG - A new survey shows that nearly a third of South Africans say they plan to cut back on alcohol.
But despite these intentions, drunk driving arrests over the Easter weekend surged by 39 percent across the country.
South Africa appears to be following a global trend, with more people -- especially younger adults -- choosing to drink less.
New research by IWSR and Euromonitor International points to growing interest in low- and no-alcohol beverages, as more consumers adopt so-called “sober-curious” lifestyles.
While health and lifestyle concerns are beginning to influence behaviour, experts say there’s still a significant gap between what people intend to do and what actually happens.
Industry analysts believe this shift presents both challenges and opportunities for retailers and beverage producers, as the market slowly moves away from traditional alcohol consumption.
Maurice Smithers from Working for an Alcohol Safer South Africa said while the findings may seem encouraging, the reality is more complex.
He cautions that South Africa is starting from a different baseline compared to regions like Europe and North America, where healthier lifestyle trends have been developing for years.
Locally, alcohol consumption has been rising over time, making any shift toward moderation relatively new.
He also points out that the ability to adopt healthier lifestyles is often linked to income.
Middle- and upper-income groups may find it easier to cut back, while many others simply don’t have that option.
Smithers adds that global alcohol companies are increasingly targeting markets in Africa and Asia, where consumption is still growing.
This, he says, could undermine efforts to reduce drinking, particularly among young people and emerging middle-class consumers.
He notes that during the COVID-19 lockdowns, alcohol restrictions led to a sharp drop in trauma cases, but he does not support a full ban.
Instead, he argues that stronger regulation and enforcement are needed.
This could include tighter controls on advertising, reduced trading hours, limiting the number of liquor outlets, restricting large-volume alcohol sales, and increasing prices.
According to Smithers, without these measures, many South Africans may continue to fall short of their intentions to drink less.