Cape Town – It's official – South Africans are the continent’s biggest drinkers, consuming at least double the African average amount of alcohol per capita.
Africa Check researched the claim made by the BBC that South Africa had the highest alcohol consumption per capita in Africa, based on a report by the World Health Organisation compiled between 2008 and 2010.
According to Africa Check, data showed that South Africans older than 15 drank the equivalent of 11 litres of pure alcohol per person in a year. This was more than double the continent’s average (4.66 litres).
This, despite the sale of liquor being strictly controlled.
The Western Cape Liquor Authority said its inspectors continue to enforce the law.
“This is meant to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Western Cape Liquor Act. Following the stats from April last year to date, 10 liquor licences were revoked, four were suspended and three were fined by the Liquor Licensing Tribunal," said assistant director at WCLA, Nwabisa Mpalala.
The WCLA continued to educate the public about liquor abuse, Mpalala said.
“We will continue to engage schools via industrial theatre to create awareness on the social harms of liquor abuse.”