Shebeen Bad Dream
Based on the experience of a GOLD Peer Educator before joining the GOLD programme
When Lindokuhle had popped around and suggested they go to the shebeen together, Ncedisa had jumped at the opportunity to get out and have some fun. It was a Friday evening and she had been at home and bored, washing up the dishes after helping her grandmother make supper. As the girls walked the 2 kilometers down the road to the shebeen arm-in-arm they talked about what had happened that week, their plan to do their hair the next day and whether they might see that new guy, Luyo this evening.
It was around 8.30pm when they arrived at the shebeen. The music was pumping, guys were playing pool in the corner and a small crowd was shouting at the TV over the bar. Lindo went over to get them some drinks. While Ncedisa waited for her to come back, she spotted Luyo at a nearby table, drinking with a group of friends. Their eyes met and he smiled at her and she looked away quickly. Soon Lindo was back with the drinks, but not before Ncedisa had stolen another glance at Luyo and noticed that he was still looking at her and smiling. Taking a sip of her cider, Ncedi wondered what the night would hold.
The girls hadn’t seen each other all week, so there was a lot of catching up to do and soon Ncedi was getting up to get the next round. When she got back to their table, Lindo was giggling.
“That Luyo was staring at you the whole time you were getting drinks!” she laughed.
Ncedi was pleased. Luyo was good-looking and she had chatted to him at school once before and he seemed like a nice guy. A little while later, when she saw him getting up from his seat, she hoped he’d be heading in her direction.
“Hello Lindo, hello Ncedi,” he said as he sat down and put fresh beers in front of them.
After a while, Lindo excused herself to go to the bathroom and Ncedi and Luyo were alone. Ncedi felt happy and excited to be talking to this older guy with the big eyes and strong arms and when he asked her to come outside with him to look at the stars she got up even though her head was feeling fuzzy. She hoped that looking at the stars meant he wanted to kiss her. As soon as they got outside, Luyo reached for her face and pulled her to him. She couldn’t believe the cool guy had chosen her. He was a good kisser, but when she pulled back to get some air, he kept holding her tight and kissing her and then his hands started to wander down her back and he began tugging at the zip at the back of her skirt.
“No, Luyo, I don’t want to,” Ncedi said. “You’re hurting me.”
“What do you mean, of course you want to,” he said roughly, his words slurring into each other now.
How had she not noticed how drunk he was before? As she tried to struggle to get free, Luyo slapped her hard across the face, sending her reeling into a nearby bush. He dragged her to the side of the bush and was on top of her before she knew what was happening. Just as he was about to pull off her skirt, Ncedi heard shouting behind her. It was Lindo and with her was Lloyd, the barman.
“Luyo, get off that girl right now,” said Lloyd.
Luyo rolled away and put his hands up and started laughing. “Come on Lloyd, I was just having some fun, don’t be so serious.”
Ncedi jumped up and ran to Lindo, throwing her arms around her. “Lindo, thank you!” she gasped. “I don’t even want to think about what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up with Lloyd.”
Bad dream or lucky break?
This story is based on the personal experience of a GOLD peer educator. Unfortunately, according to the statistics and the feedback we received from peer educators across GOLD communities, many girls are not as lucky as Ncedi and often end up being raped and getting infected with HIV as a result of alcohol abuse. Too many people have first hand experience of the link between alcohol abuse, violence and HIV infection.
How much is too much?
Medical: We asked Dr Robyn Spring how much is too much:
Remember the age of legal drinking is 18 in Zambia, Botswana and South Africa, so rather be responsible and say no, until you’re legal. That said, any amount of drinking which makes you lose control or have memory lapses is bad. I would say more than 2 drinks for a teen is too many!
Law: In Zambia, Botswana and South Africa, the legal drinking age is 18. This means that it is illegal to sell alcohol to anyone under 18 and anyone who does can be heavily fined and even have their liquor license suspended. Underage drinkers can also get into trouble with the law.
Phuza Wize
At GOLD we’re really excited about the Phuza Wize campaign which aims to prevent violence by making social spaces safer and by reducing alcohol related violence.
In Southern Africa violence is related to alcohol abuse in a very high percent of cases, and it has been shown internationally that if one changes the way people drink and reduce the availability of alcohol, violence will be reduced. The Phuza Wize campaign, launched by Soul City in South Africa in 2010, has developed a 10 point plan for helping taverns and shebeens to become safer places. Phuza Wize also want to change the way people drink and think about drinking by creating a supportive environment for moderate drinking. In Botswana, similar actions have been taken by the government to encourage moderate drinking and safer drinking spaces.
What makes a place a safe social space?
The following 10 point plan will determine if a place where alcohol is served (tavern, shebeen etc) is a safe social space.
- Do not sell to intoxicated people.
- Do not sell to children under the age of 18 years.
- Do not sell to visibly pregnant women.
- Sell food and non-alcoholic drinks - and make water available.
- Have good lighting, clean toilets and security.
- No more than 3 people per square meter.
- Have clear defined serving area inside and outside.
- Display safer sex messages and condoms.
- Encourage customers not to drink and drive.
- Adhere to liquor license opening and closing times hours of sale.
Alcohol Facts - Did you know?
- Alcohol is immediately absorbed into the blood.
- It quickly affects the way you think and act.
- It makes you to lose your ability to ‘think straight’.
- Alcohol makes you react more slowly to things or people.
- Young people who don’t drink a lot are less likely to fail a grade and stay away from school.
- A study of grade 8 and 11 learners in Cape Town found that those who drank more were more likely to repeat a grade.
“The challenge of alcohol abuse has been with us for some time. We have long been aware of its role in promoting the spread of HIV/AIDS, as well as its significant contribution to anti-social, risky and criminal behaviour, including child abuse, violence against women and deaths on our roads.”
President Khama, Botswana, October 2008
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Let's Talk About...
To get to the root of a problem, sometimes we have to dig deep and ask some hard questions. These questions might help you think through the risk of alcohol abuse in your community and come up with some ideas about changing habits around drinking:
- Why do you think teens in your community drink too much? Why do girls drink? Why do boys drink?
- What are some of the risks of drinking, which you want to avoid?
- What do you think would help teenagers not to drink too much?
- How do you think teenagers can support each other to drink less?
- How do you think teenagers can protect each other from some of the risks of drinking too much?
- Are there safe drinking spaces in your community? Where are they and why are they safe?
You can use these questions as the basis for a GOLD talk group
Action Zone
If you feel fired up to make a difference like a superhero with a cape, here are some ideas of how you can tackle issues around alcohol abuse in your community:
- Encourage your local drinking places to become safer. Rally support in the community by sharing the 10 point safer social space plan and explaining the link between alcohol and violence. Drinking places rely on the community for business and will listen to the community. You could draw up a petition or ask your local councilor to help you.
- Advocate for your school to become an alcohol free zone. You could perform a drama in assembly showing the link between violence, alcohol and HIV infection and encourage students and teachers not to drink or bring alcohol onto the school premises.
- Share the message with your friends that not drinking doesn’t mean you’re not cool, it just means you don’t need a crutch to have fun!
Have your say
We asked some GOLD Peer Educators from various GOLD areas to share their thoughts on drinking. Here’s what they had to say:
Not really. There is not a lot of drinking.
Yes, it is a very common issue.
It is a huge problem because teens end up dropping out of school and that leads to the number of graduates decreasing.
Yes, it’s a big problem
I think they drink to fit into their groups.
They drink too much just to have fun and some of them drink because of family problems.
It is because alcohol is popular and sellers can sell to children as young as 10 years old.
Because they don’t have anything to do and they can’t afford school fees.
It’s because of peer pressure and because they are bored.
They get drunk and fall everywhere, they abuse alcohol. I think 3 glasses is enough.
It’s ok to drink one beer in a week, but not to regularly drink 2 beers at a time.
I think 1 glass is too much so it’s not to drink at all to save your money and life.
Two glasses is enough.
They can get raped. They can get killed or kidnapped.
If you drink too much you can end up being raped and afterwards you can fall pregnant or get HIV/AIDS.
You can loose your mind, which is like being drunk without drinking.
They can be raped and also be infected with HIV/AIDS and get pregnant.
Most girls end up raped and others are kidnapped or they have an accident on the road.
I’d prefer them not to drink at all.
An alcohol seller must try not to sell alcohol to a person under the age of 18.
The alcohol seller must be arrested when selling to teens
By telling them about the risks of alcohol abuse.
By encouraging them not to drink too much because they will end up as victims of rape.
I don’t think they can because some teens don’t listen to their peers.
By helping each other and giving each other some ideas.
They could have a trust group, which supports them not to drink alcohol.
By supporting each other and telling them that they are special.
By opening an organization where we could talk more about alcohol and its effects.
I think they can protect themselves by not drinking at all.
If they could at least work as a group when they go to a shebeen.
Give each other sound advice and show each other the good way.
If a girl goes to the toilet at least one friend should go with her.
By not going to a tavern by yourself. You could ask a friend to go with you.
No there are no safe drinking spaces.
There are some shebeens that are much safer than others.
No because you can get in with any weapon.
No – most of the taverns are not safe.
Getting Help
SOUTH AFRICA
Alcoholics Anonymous 0861 HELPAA (435722)
AA has support groups all over the country. If you suspect you or a friend or relative has a drinking problem, call and find out how AA can help you. www.aanonymous.org.za/
South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG):
0800 121314 (Toll Free) SMS’s can also be sent to 32312.
CHILDLINE SOUTH AFRICA: 0800 55 555
L-Anon and Al-Ateen – understanding, help and support to families and friends of problem drinkers. Al-Ateen is dedicated to helping the children of alcoholics – www.alanon.org.za
SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) – SANCA has a network of treatment centres across SA – www.sancanational.org.za
ZAMBIA
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) is the agency that deals with crimes that relate to alcohol and drug abuse and in recent years has moved from purely being an enforcement agency to providing counseling and rehabilitation services for those that have alcohol and substance abuse problems.
BOTSWANA
Every Social and Community Development (S&CD) office in your area has a trained social worker who can advise you on confronting alcohol dependency issues. Also, keep in mind your Botswana Police Service station number in case of emergency.
