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Statistics

 

International

South Africa

Summary

The following shocking statistics give an indication of the impact of being under the influence of alcohol in the South African society.
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Six out of ten drivers that dies in accidents have dangerously high alcohol levels in their blood.

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In an investigation into substance abuse, 50% of truck drivers and 30% of taxi drivers had been drinking or smoking marijuana.

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3000 Adult pedestrians are killed in motor accidents per year. 70% of them are drunk when killed.

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When you are on the road at night, one out of every seven drivers sharing the road with you, is drunk.

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When you take a single drink your chances of causing an accident doubles.

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It is the third leading cause of death in the USA.

Underneath follows statistics organised alphabetically for the following topics. Statistics are for South Africa unless otherwise indicated.

Crime

Death

Domestic Violence

Driving

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

Financial Costs

Hospital Statistics

Quantity of Drinkers

Road Accidents

Crime
bulletJust under half of all male prisoners had consumed alcohol or drugs at the time of, or before committing, their most recent crime. (NICRO)

Death

 
bullet

It is the third leading cause of death in the USA.

bulletSix out of ten drivers that dies in accidents  have dangerously high alcohol levels in their blood. http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/alcohol_abuse%20in%20SA.htm
bullet3000 Adult pedestrians are killed in motor accidents per year. 70% of them are drunk when killed. http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/alcohol_abuse%20in%20SA.htm
bulletHalf of all murders were the result of drunkenness (MRC).
bulletOver 50% of non-natural deaths received at state mortuaries in Cape Town had high levels of blood alcohol concentrations. http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/alcohol_abuse%20in%20SA.htm 
bullet58% of people fatally injured in train related trauma (who either fell from or walked in front of trains) in Cape Town had high blood alcohol concentrations. http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/alcohol_abuse%20in%20SA.htm
bulletOver 50% of those who had died by drowning in greater Cape Town, over a ten year period, were found to have high concentrations of alcohol in their blood stream. http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/alcohol_abuse%20in%20SA.htm
bullet"more than three-quarters of homicides perpetrated with a sharp object are alcohol related" - The National Injury Surveillance System in its "Profile of Fatal and Non-fatal Injuries in South Africa" of May 2000.
bulletApproximately 40% of firearm and 58% of blunt instrument homicide victims have consumed alcohol prior to their fatal injury. Not only are those perpetrating the crimes likely to be under the influence of alcohol, but the victims also tend to have much higher alcohol levels as well - The National Injury Surveillance System in its "Profile of Fatal and Non-fatal Injuries in South Africa" of May 2000.

Domestic Violence

bullet67% of domestic violence in the Cape Metropolitan area was alcohol related (MRC). 
bulletIn a study of women abused by their spouses, 69% identified alcohol/drug abuse as the main cause of conflict leading to the abuse(MRC).
bullet76% of domestic violence in rural areas in the South-Western Cape was found to be alcohol related (MRC).

Driving

 
bullet

When you take a single drink your chances of causing an accident doubles.

bullet

When you are on the road at night, one out of every seven drivers sharing the road with you, is drunk.

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

 
bulletOne study found that the incidence of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in Cape Town is 1 per 281 live births.  http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/alcohol_abuse%20in%20SA.htm 

Financial Cost

 
bulletAlcohol abuse costs South Africa at least R9 billion a year (MRC).
bulletAlcohol has a negative effect on the business community due to absenteeism, poor productivity, high job turnover, interpersonal conflicts, injuries and damage to property. One study in the Orange Free State found that 20% of gold mine workers involved in occupational injuries had high concentrations of alcohol in their blood streams (MRC).
bulletIt is estimated that alcohol related costs associated with pedestrian trauma alone are in excess of $83 million per year (MRC).
bulletIt is estimated that motor vehicle collisions cost the country at least $1,5 billion per year and that at least 50% of these vehicle accidents are alcohol related (Transport Ministry). 
bulletThe economic costs associated with alcohol abuse in the work place are likely to be in excess of $1,7 billion (2% of the gross national product) per year (MRC)

Hospital Trauma and Admissions

bulletMore than 60% of hospital trauma cases were the result of drunkenness (MRC).
bulletIt is estimated that up to 30% of general hospital admissions in South Africa are directly or indirectly related to alcohol use. http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/alcohol_abuse%20in%20SA.htm 
bulletA clinical assessment of general hospital admissions found alcohol to be a contributing factor in general trauma cases: in 38% of the admissions in the Cape metropolitan area and 49% in rural communities alcohol was found to be a contributing factor. http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/alcohol_abuse%20in%20SA.htm 
bullet48% of trauma patients admitted to the casualty department of the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto on a Saturday night were found to be intoxicated. http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/alcohol_abuse%20in%20SA.htm 
bulletAlmost 80% of all assault patients - both male and female - presented at an urban hospital Trauma Unit in Cape Town were either found to be under the influence of alcohol or injured because of alcohol related violence. http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/alcohol_abuse%20in%20SA.htm

Quantity of drinkers

 
bulletSouth Africa has "one of the highest per capita alcohol consumption rates in the world". (The National Injury Surveillance System in its "Profile of Fatal and Non-fatal Injuries in South Africa" of May 2000).
bulletThe NorthWest province has the highest alcohol consumption rate (34lt - 68lt per capita). - SANPARK Community Centre
bulletRisky drinkers - about 5.9 million men and 1.63 million women engaging in risky drinking - drinking five or more beers or glasses of wine at one sitting for men and more than three drinks for women (MRC).

Road Accidents 

 
bulletHalf of all road accidents in South Africa were the result of drunkenness (MRC).
bullet60% of pedestrians involved in collision traumas on the road and then treated in a hospital trauma unit were found to have high blood alcohol concentrations. http://www.frontline.org.za/articles/alcohol_abuse%20in%20SA.htm

***

International

Nearly 14 million Americans – 1 in every 13 adults – abuse alcohol or are alcoholic, according to the NIAAA. Several million more adults engage in risky drinking that could lead to alcohol problems. This behavior includes binge drinking and heavy drinking on a regular basis. In addition, 53 percent of men and women in the United States report drinking problems in close relatives. Alcohol-related problems cost society about $185 billion per year, the NIAAA estimates. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-05/uoth-sdi051503.php 

Last updated on 18 Apr 2007

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Back to index.    Disclaimer: Although reasonable effort has been applied to maintain the integrity of the data and advice on this site, no responsibility can be accepted for the use thereof. It is a resource guide for understanding and managing alcoholism. The information on this site is provided "as is" for general information and is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis or treatment recommendation of a qualified health care professional.    Enquiries regarding this web site should be directed to support@alcohol.co.za