Namibia's alcohol consumption worrisome
Recent calls by regional councils for limiting the operating hours of shebeens and bars, as well the findings of the latest Namibia Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), paint a bleak picture of alcohol consumption in the country.
According to the NDHS findings, 79.5% of men in the Oshana Region have consumed alcohol while among the women; the Oshikoto Region is leading with 67.9%. According to the report, Zambezi has the lowest number of women who have ever consumed alcohol (14.2%) while for the men, Omaheke is the lowest with 36.9%.
In the Oshana region, 61.8% of women have consumed alcohol, 58.5% in Omusati, 46.5% in Omaheke, 54% in Ohangwena, 48.2% in Kunene, 52.9% in Khomas, 36.8% in Kavango, 42.7% in //Karas, 42.4% in Hardap, and 47.8% in Erongo.
Among men who have ever consumed alcohol Oshana is followed by Oshikoto with 72.7%. The other leading regions include Khomas with 64.3% and Ohangwena with 62.6%.
Omaheke and Kunene have the lowest percentage of men who have ever consumed alcohol.
The report also indicates that educated men and women consume more alcohol. Of the women with more than a secondary education surveyed, 62.8% have consumed alcohol while 68.4% of men with more than a secondary education have consumed alcohol.
The report also indicates that more young men have consumed alcohol. Men in the age group of 25 to 29 are leading the stats with 65.4% followed by men 30 to 34 years with 64.4%, and 64.1% of men between the ages of 20 to 24. When it comes to men between the ages of 15 to 19, 38.5% have consumed alcohol.
Among women, middle-aged women drink slightly more. Women 35 to 39 are at the top of the leaderboard, followed by women 25 to 29 and women 20 to 24.
Regions fed up
Regional councils are fed up with the level of alcohol consumption and have called for shebeens and bars to close at 22:00.
In its quarterly report to the National Council, the Ohangwena Regional Council called for the Liquor Act to be reviewed. The regional council wants a moratorium on the issuing of shebeen licences and for shebeen operating hours to be limited to between 10:00 and 22:00.
The regional council also wants shebeens to be prohibited from operating in residential areas. In its report, the //Karas Regional Council expressed the same sentiments and also wanted the Liquor Act to be amended in order to limit shebeen operating hours.
GORDON JOSEPH
According to the NDHS findings, 79.5% of men in the Oshana Region have consumed alcohol while among the women; the Oshikoto Region is leading with 67.9%. According to the report, Zambezi has the lowest number of women who have ever consumed alcohol (14.2%) while for the men, Omaheke is the lowest with 36.9%.
In the Oshana region, 61.8% of women have consumed alcohol, 58.5% in Omusati, 46.5% in Omaheke, 54% in Ohangwena, 48.2% in Kunene, 52.9% in Khomas, 36.8% in Kavango, 42.7% in //Karas, 42.4% in Hardap, and 47.8% in Erongo.
Among men who have ever consumed alcohol Oshana is followed by Oshikoto with 72.7%. The other leading regions include Khomas with 64.3% and Ohangwena with 62.6%.
Omaheke and Kunene have the lowest percentage of men who have ever consumed alcohol.
The report also indicates that educated men and women consume more alcohol. Of the women with more than a secondary education surveyed, 62.8% have consumed alcohol while 68.4% of men with more than a secondary education have consumed alcohol.
The report also indicates that more young men have consumed alcohol. Men in the age group of 25 to 29 are leading the stats with 65.4% followed by men 30 to 34 years with 64.4%, and 64.1% of men between the ages of 20 to 24. When it comes to men between the ages of 15 to 19, 38.5% have consumed alcohol.
Among women, middle-aged women drink slightly more. Women 35 to 39 are at the top of the leaderboard, followed by women 25 to 29 and women 20 to 24.
Regions fed up
Regional councils are fed up with the level of alcohol consumption and have called for shebeens and bars to close at 22:00.
In its quarterly report to the National Council, the Ohangwena Regional Council called for the Liquor Act to be reviewed. The regional council wants a moratorium on the issuing of shebeen licences and for shebeen operating hours to be limited to between 10:00 and 22:00.
The regional council also wants shebeens to be prohibited from operating in residential areas. In its report, the //Karas Regional Council expressed the same sentiments and also wanted the Liquor Act to be amended in order to limit shebeen operating hours.
GORDON JOSEPH
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