NCJ Number
116971
Journal
Contemporary Drug Problems Volume: 15 Issue: 3 Dated: (Fall 1988) Pages: 447-470
Date Published
1988
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This study examined drinking patterns among adults in the Republic of South Africa using data from six surveys conducted between 1962 and 1982.
Abstract
Overall, results indicate that gender and age have remained the two factors most closely related to drinking practices over the past two decades. More South African men than women drank, and they drank more frequently and consumed larger amounts of absolute alcohol per year than did women. Beer drinking was especially common among younger age groups, while drinking of spirits was particularly prevalent among older groups. Other demographic variables such as income, occupation, marital status, home language, and religious affiliation were not significant differentiating factors with regard to drinking practices in any of the studies. Over time, there has been an increase in occasional drinking; although most consumers reported comparatively low levels of consumption in the most recent study. Nonetheless, the 1982 study indicated that 3.5 percent of white males, almost 1 percent of white females, 9 percent of colored males, 3 percent of colored females, 6 percent of Indian males, 16 percent of black females, and about 33 percent of black males drank at least 36.5 liters of absolute alcohol per year. 2 notes and 23 references.