The youth loves booze
Adolescent drinkers speak to The Zone about their drinking practices.
Although nightclubs are restricted to those over 18, many young people frequent these places.
Clubbing has become an activity used by the youth to enjoy themselves and, as a recreational activity.
Some of the underage drinkers have been participating in a 'culture of intoxication' and despite measures put in place by the authorities, many of the underage drinkers have access to popular clubs in Windhoek.
The Zone visited a few nightclubs to see how many of the underage drinkers were allowed in.
One of the teens we encountered was Hosea Shilongo and a few of his friends.
They were all at a popular club in Windhoek despite being underage.
“As long as you are safe and you know your yourself and that you should not do things that will make you end up in trouble, you can come here to party,” said Shilongo.
The 16-year-old teen says he gained access to the party at the popular club because he just had to “walk through” the doors of the establishment.
“We don't usually have to struggle when we come into the club. My friends and I just walk in, no questions asked at all,” said Shilongo. He argues that many clubs in Windhoek do not inspect most young club goers to see if they have identification on them because some of the underage drinkers who go to the clubs appear “older” than they actually look. “At times you will find a few clubs who actually ask for identification but that does not happen often. If you appear older you can just walk in without any issues.
Sometimes the bouncers are also working with many people and they just let you in,” said Shilongo.
He said that he likes to go to nightclubs because of the thrill he gets when he visits them.
“The atmosphere here is very different from any other place that is why I come here.
Clubbing is a good way to just relax,” said Shilongo.
When he was asked whether he knew that he was too young to party at some of the nightclubs he goes to, he said that many underage club goers do not end up in too much trouble when they visit the clubs.
“The most that can happen to you is that you are thrown out of the club. In the past the City Police used to do random inspections of clubs but they do not do that anymore so many of us go where we want,” said Shilongo.
Shilongo says he is well aware of the consequences of drinking while young but argues he is not reckless about it.
“I have not had a bad experience with drinking so far.
My friends and I make sure not to get too wasted when we go out, we drink responsibly.
I know I am young but since when has that stopped young people from drinking?” said Shilongo. The teen explained that they get money to buy alcohol from their parents and then each one of his friends contributes.
“All of us put money together and we use the money to buy the alcohol.
That is the only way we can afford it,” said Shilongo.
He says his parents are not aware he drinks alcohol or that he regularly goes out clubbing with his friends. “My mom thinks I am sleeping over at my friend's place.
I am doing well academically in school and that is one of the main reasons why she does not know about my clubbing habit,” shared Shilongo.
Shilongo's friend who only wanted to be identified as 'Markus' said he does not drink but goes to clubs because he gets to be around his friends.
“I do not consume alcohol but I prefer going to clubs. We are all young and sometimes just want to experience these clubs.
Markus says they are not in clubs because of peer pressure but because they all made a conscious choice to go to clubs.
“It is not about peer pressure, we come here because we want to. I know some other people who come here because of that, but not us. We come here because we chose to do it,” said Markus.
He said that they cannot wait until they were older to go to clubs because it is inevitable.
“I do not think that we have a choice. Even if I was not going clubbing now at some point in my life I will have to do it that is why I have chosen to do it now. Clubs and shebeens are popular in Windhoek that is why many young people go to them,” said Markus.
A bouncer at two of the clubs visited by The Zone says they are sometimes lenient on underage drinkers because if they removed them it would be bad for business.
“If many young people are coming to the clubs we cannot stop them because if we do then the business would not operate. Sometimes we do let them off with a warning but they keep coming back to the clubs,” said the bouncer.
Shona Ngava
Clubbing has become an activity used by the youth to enjoy themselves and, as a recreational activity.
Some of the underage drinkers have been participating in a 'culture of intoxication' and despite measures put in place by the authorities, many of the underage drinkers have access to popular clubs in Windhoek.
The Zone visited a few nightclubs to see how many of the underage drinkers were allowed in.
One of the teens we encountered was Hosea Shilongo and a few of his friends.
They were all at a popular club in Windhoek despite being underage.
“As long as you are safe and you know your yourself and that you should not do things that will make you end up in trouble, you can come here to party,” said Shilongo.
The 16-year-old teen says he gained access to the party at the popular club because he just had to “walk through” the doors of the establishment.
“We don't usually have to struggle when we come into the club. My friends and I just walk in, no questions asked at all,” said Shilongo. He argues that many clubs in Windhoek do not inspect most young club goers to see if they have identification on them because some of the underage drinkers who go to the clubs appear “older” than they actually look. “At times you will find a few clubs who actually ask for identification but that does not happen often. If you appear older you can just walk in without any issues.
Sometimes the bouncers are also working with many people and they just let you in,” said Shilongo.
He said that he likes to go to nightclubs because of the thrill he gets when he visits them.
“The atmosphere here is very different from any other place that is why I come here.
Clubbing is a good way to just relax,” said Shilongo.
When he was asked whether he knew that he was too young to party at some of the nightclubs he goes to, he said that many underage club goers do not end up in too much trouble when they visit the clubs.
“The most that can happen to you is that you are thrown out of the club. In the past the City Police used to do random inspections of clubs but they do not do that anymore so many of us go where we want,” said Shilongo.
Shilongo says he is well aware of the consequences of drinking while young but argues he is not reckless about it.
“I have not had a bad experience with drinking so far.
My friends and I make sure not to get too wasted when we go out, we drink responsibly.
I know I am young but since when has that stopped young people from drinking?” said Shilongo. The teen explained that they get money to buy alcohol from their parents and then each one of his friends contributes.
“All of us put money together and we use the money to buy the alcohol.
That is the only way we can afford it,” said Shilongo.
He says his parents are not aware he drinks alcohol or that he regularly goes out clubbing with his friends. “My mom thinks I am sleeping over at my friend's place.
I am doing well academically in school and that is one of the main reasons why she does not know about my clubbing habit,” shared Shilongo.
Shilongo's friend who only wanted to be identified as 'Markus' said he does not drink but goes to clubs because he gets to be around his friends.
“I do not consume alcohol but I prefer going to clubs. We are all young and sometimes just want to experience these clubs.
Markus says they are not in clubs because of peer pressure but because they all made a conscious choice to go to clubs.
“It is not about peer pressure, we come here because we want to. I know some other people who come here because of that, but not us. We come here because we chose to do it,” said Markus.
He said that they cannot wait until they were older to go to clubs because it is inevitable.
“I do not think that we have a choice. Even if I was not going clubbing now at some point in my life I will have to do it that is why I have chosen to do it now. Clubs and shebeens are popular in Windhoek that is why many young people go to them,” said Markus.
A bouncer at two of the clubs visited by The Zone says they are sometimes lenient on underage drinkers because if they removed them it would be bad for business.
“If many young people are coming to the clubs we cannot stop them because if we do then the business would not operate. Sometimes we do let them off with a warning but they keep coming back to the clubs,” said the bouncer.
Shona Ngava
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