Abstract
Introduction. In 2016, after the Western Cape Liquor Act was enacted, alcohol outlets were mapped in the six towns from a previous 2008 study to determine: (1) alcohol outlet density; (2) the association between deprivation and alcohol outlet density; (3) geospatial trends of alcohol outlet densities; and (4) the impact of alcohol legislation. Methods. Latitude and longitude coordinates were collected of legal and illegal alcohol outlets, and alcohol outlet density was calculated for legal, illegal and total alcohol outlets by km2 and per 1000 persons. To determine the impact of legislation, t-tests and hot spot analyses were calculated for both 2008 and 2016 studies. Spearman coefficients estimated the relationship between alcohol outlet density and deprivation. Results. Although not statistically significant, the number of alcohol outlets and the density per 1000 population declined by about 12% and 34%, respectively. Illegal outlets were still more likely to be located in more deprived areas, and legal outlets in less deprived areas; and a reduction or addition of a few outlets can change a town’s hot spot status. Conclusions. Further studies with larger sample sizes might help to clarify the impacts of the Liquor Act, and the more recent 2017 Alcohol-Related Harms Reduction Policy on alcohol outlet density in the province.
Highlights
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in South AfricaThe historical trauma of the dop system, whereby the remuneration of farmworkers included alcohol, and the subsequent heavy drinking among sub-segments of the Western Cape Province ‘coloured’ (This paper’s authors do not subscribe to the use of this ’racial’ category) population have resulted in high rates of problem drinking among men and women in the region [1,2]
In 2016, after the Western Cape Liquor Act was enacted, alcohol outlets were mapped in the six towns from a previous 2008 study to determine: (1) alcohol outlet density; (2) the association between deprivation and alcohol outlet density; (3) geospatial trends of alcohol outlet densities; and (4) the impact of alcohol legislation
One potential explanation for the lack of association between legal village alcohol outlet density and heavy drinking is the availability of home brewed alcohol consumed at traditional and cultural events outside of these taverns and liquor stores [12]. This is a common source of consumption, as the majority of alcohol in Agincourt is sold at informal, unlicensed taverns [11], a situation commonly reported throughout South Africa [13,14,15]
Summary
The historical trauma of the dop system, whereby the remuneration of farmworkers included alcohol, and the subsequent heavy drinking among sub-segments of the Western Cape Province ‘coloured’ (This paper’s authors do not subscribe to the use of this ’racial’ category) population have resulted in high rates of problem drinking among men and women in the region [1,2]. Despite both media attention and prevention efforts, drinking during pregnancy remains a problem. Public Health 2020, 17, 697; doi:10.3390/ijerph17030697 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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