Does South Africa have a problem with teenage drinking?

Published: July 25, 2022, 1 a.m.

This episode contains frank discussion about underage drinking, as well as subjects like sexual assault and abuse.\n**********************************************************************************************************************************\n\u201cIn the neighbourhood I come from, drinking is very popular. Maybe it\u2019s the way people are brought up. They don\u2019t see it as a big problem. But obviously it is from what has happened.\u201d Uma, 17 years.

Last month, 21 teenagers died at a tavern in the city of East London. Some were as young as 13. The eldest was 17. The tragedy has ignited a debate about why many young people are consuming alcohol on a regular basis \u2013 and what can be done about it.

Africa Daily is currently on tour and in Johannesburg \u2013 and so for the podcast\u2019s first ever live recording, Alan Kasujja discusses the issue in front of an audience of young people \u2013 and asks them for their thoughts. He also hears from a man who grew up, regularly drinking, in a township \u2013 ending up in and out of prison between the age of 13 and 26. He now counsels young people about how to make good choices about their lives and alcohol.

Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)\nGuests: Yethembe Uma Chasokela and Thapelo Masokoane (@SurpriseThapz)\nSound Engineer: Moses Molapisane

With special thanks to Protea Glen Secondary School 2, Gabriela Pomeroy (producer) and the Humanities Department at Wits University.