Tips for Teens
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An initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry, the NYDA and SAB
Think about it
Drinking is a part of life in our
country with the majority of people
drinking responsibly and in
moderation. However, there are
those people who abuse alcohol and
this can have a devastating impact
on their friends and family. There is
also a growing concern about the
number of teens who are drinking –
the very people we are counting to
lead us in the next 20 years.
“Ikusasa kufanele liqhakaze, ngoba intsha yethu
ineziphiwo/inamathalente kodwa ukuphuza
bese konakala konke kungashabalalisa konke.
Sinamaphupho, sifuna ukwenza izinto ezinkulu,
kodwa langihlala khona kulula kabi ukuba ulahl
ekelwe indlela yakho.”
uTaps oneminyaka engu-17 ohlala eThekwini.
1
Hopefully this booklet will get you
dreaming and doing great things.
You decide.
Locally, many stars and
celebs are speaking out on
the issue of teen drinking.
Thembalethu Ntuli is one of
them. Famous for getting
us laughing with his ‘tsotsi
taal’, he has seen the
effects of excessive drinking
and underage consumption
on our communities and
says: “No ways, youth can
be tooooo crazy. Why drink?
Just wait until you’re older
and rather start building
your success in your teens:
go to school, meet new
friends, play sport, and
develop your interests. You
won’t regret it when your
adult life is styling. You can
change the world…come up
bigger than you are.”
Caroline grew up with parents with
drinking problems. Things were so
unbearable that she promised she
would never touch a drop of alcohol.
Then, when she was 13, her mom
died, and she had to move in with
her gran. It was a strict household:
definitely no alcohol in sight. About
a year later though, her cousin also
moved in. He was 15, popular, and a
drinker. He often teased her, until
one day when he had friends around,
to show him she could do it, she took
a huge glug of liquor. Everyone was
having fun: laughing, dancing. It was
great. It happened more and more
often.
10 months later, things were out of
control. Caroline was kicked out by
her granny, and had nowhere to go…
Some of the issues around underage drinking are highlighted
here. Some may come as a surprise and some may not.
You decide.
1 in 2 teenagers in the average South African home is a user of
alcohol
Almost half the learners (49%) interviewed in a recent high school
survey said that they had drunk alcohol at some stage during their
school career
In the same survey, 15% of guys and 8% of girls said that they’d had
their first drink before the age of 13
Having five or more drinks in a single session is considered to be
binge drinking and makes you a problem drinker
Half of the students who admitted to drinking (23% to 35%) said that
they had had a binge drinking session (had five or more drinks on
one occasion) in the month before the survey
People who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more
likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who have their first
drink at age 20 or older
Teens that use alcohol are three times more likely to be involved in
violent crime
Teenagers who drink are far more likely to try illegal drugs. In fact,
research shows that 67% of teens who drink before the age of 15
will go on to use illegal drugs. They are 22 times more likely to use
marijuana, and 50 times more likely to use cocaine
Some youth start abusing alcohol from age 12 and younger
60% of Grade 8 to 11 learners who abused alcohol in a local
research study had to repeat their grade
So,
why are
teens drinking?
Boredom:
Some teenagers get bored easily
and crave constant excitement,
even danger.
To escape:
Being a teenager can be very
stressful. Depression; anxiety;
problems at home; demands to
achieve and over-achieve and the
pressure of social acceptance
2
can make your life as a teen
pretty tough. Add all of this
up, and you can see the
reasons otherwise normal
teens could get tempted
to drink.
To rebel:
What better way to stick it to
your parents than by doing
what you shouldn’t? But when
people drink to rebel or prove
a point, they can become
more angry and aggressive.
#ThinkBeforeYouDrink
Liquid courage:
Sometimes you want to fit
in and be a part of the “in”
crowd. Or your peers suggest
you drink to be part of the
group. Sometimes you don’t
think you’re cool enough –
taking a drink only
temporarily fixes the problem.
3
Things go right,
things go wrong
Drinking because
you’re bored?
Don’t want to sit around
drinking your teen years
away? Look for more
constructive activities
that you and your friends
can do. Get involved in
sporting activities or offer
your services at
community development
and charitable
organisations where you
can make a difference.
There are hundreds of
options available to you-:
check out
www.youdecide.org.za.
Many of the pitfalls of drinking
before you are 18 are either not really
understood or considered. A few of
the risks only apply if you become a
heavy drinker, but some could kick in
even if you only experiment with
alcohol. And, remember, all heavy
drinkers were light drinkers once.
Here are some of the benefits of not
drinking underage:
“I have golden opportunities”
Great sportspeople, artists, actors,
DJs and entrepreneurs get into the
groove, that later leads to their
success, in their teens. Think of
how many soccer stars’ careers are
over by age 30.
You can’t get your teen years back, so don’t lose the chance to
hone your burgeoning skills now. You won’t get a second shot.
“No criminal record for me, thanks”
It’s a criminal offence for teens under 18 to buy alcohol. If
you’re caught and convicted for buying alcohol, or for any
infringement while under the influence, you will have a
criminal record, be jailed, and possibly pay a huge fine.
Don’t end up in jail or limit your life plans. Good jobs and
being able to travel to many countries are not an option for
criminal record holders.
Kawusoze wabuyela
emuva waba mncane
futhi, ngakhoke
ungalahlekelwa ithuba
lokuthuthukisa ulwazi lwakho
njenga manje. Kawusoze
walithola ithuba lesibili.
“I don’t want to be raped or seriously
injured”
Teens who drink are more likely to
become victims of violent crime.
You increase your risk of being
hurt through events such as car
accidents or violence; you may be
more susceptible to getting drawn
into crime, such as stealing and
more than 50% of rape sufferers
are abused whilst drunk. Girls who
drink can also become targets for
rape (especially date rape).
4
Sexual risk
Even modest drinking can lower
your defences. So if you want to
avoid sexual activity you’re not
ready for, or unnecessary sexual
health risks, avoid drinking. The
downside can include unplanned
pregnancies, sexually transmitted
diseases and HIV.
“I want to succeed at school”
You want to be a success, and school is one step on that path.
There are numerous studies showing the strong connection
between binge drinking, school dropouts and poor academic
performance.
U 60% wabafundi baka grade
8 kuya ku 11 abasebenzisa
kabi utshwala ocwaningweni
lwendawo kufanele baphinde
amagrade ukuze baphase.
No physical and
psychological problems
Mahlatsipa a fetang 50% a
peto a hlekefetswa a tahilwe.
5
Alcohol affects your mental
and physical advancement
if you are not yet fully
developed. The abuse of
alcohol at a young age can
result in physical and/or
psychological damage.
Hore “tjhe” ho nweng
mabakeng a kang mekete ho
ka ba thata. Kgetlong la pele
haholo ho ka ba thata, empa
ka pheello, ho ba bonolo.
“No intention of becoming a full-blown alcoholic”
If you start drinking before you’re 15, you are four
times more likely to develop a drinking problem
than other teens that wait until they’re 18 or older.
Alcoholism tends to run in families and if you have
an alcoholic parent, you may be at a higher risk.
“I don’t have to regret what I say”
There are thousands of instances where words
and actions have been used whilst being under
the influence of alcohol that can’t be taken
back. Insulting a friend can’t easily be
‘undone’, the same way embarrassing
cellphone messages can’t be taken back
once you have sent them.
But beer is not so bad,right?
Uma uqala uphuza utshwala
ngaphambi kokuba ube
neminyaka engu-15, amathuba
akho aphindwe kane okuba ube
nenkinga yophuzo kunabanye
abasha abalinda baze babe
neminyaka engu-18
nangaphezulu.
“Lots of my friends drink, but I don’t like
the taste, I don’t like how it makes me
feel…not being in control…and it sucks
up a lot of money.”
- Lazi M, Alexandra, 17
While beer does have a lower alcohol content
than most other forms of liquor, a beer is
not safer than wine or a shot of hard liquor
(e.g. whiskey or vodka). They have the same
harmful effects on your still growing brain and
body.
Batla ketso tse hlalefileng
tseo o ka di etsang le
metswalle.
“I never knew alcohol [until] my friends
introduced me to it. The whole idea was
to experiment...That is how I moved from
a light drinker to a heavy drinker.”
– Sam N, Durban, 15
6
I don’t want to
Pressure from friends
“Everybody’s doing it”, so it must be okay and if you
say “no”, you run the risk of being labeled a nerd or
becoming a social outcast. Peer pressure is when
someone convinces you to do something against your
better judgement. It can happen without you realising
it.
For example: you feel you should drink because all
your friends do and you want to be like them. Or it
can be more obvious. Or even threatening, like it was
for Caroline, where a friend says “Just have a taste,
what’s the big deal?” Or “do it or we’ll tell everyone
you’re a loser”.
Either way, it’s forcing you to do something that you
don’t want to do. Rising above these challenges is
one of the skills that will help make you a
successful adult – any loser can say yes, but
stand-up guys stand up! #StandUpGuy
7
Ho ba motjha ho ka baka
tsitsipano.
Resisting peer pressure is
diff icult
There is the fear of rejection or
being made fun of. You are not the
only one. Teens all over the world
want to be liked and don’t want to
lose their friends. Sometimes you
feel confused, so you just say “yes”.
So how do you resist drinking when
you don’t want to?
Saying “no” to drinking in situations like at a
party can be hard. The first time may be
especially difficult, but keep at it, it gets easier.
Kwenye inkathi ufuna
ukuba ube yingxenye
yabathile. Noma
abangane bakho
baphakamise ukuthi
kufanele uphuze
ukuze wemukeleke ube yingxenye
yeqembu.
Firstly, understand and prepare your
heart-felt reason for not wanting to drink. It could
be because you’d rather concentrate on sport or
school, or for religious reasons. Or just because
you want to wait until it’s right (and legal). Don’t
feel like you need to apologise, or blame your
choice on others. Stand your ground without lame
excuses. It’s your right to say “not for me, thank
you.” #Ownit
“We know about the effects of alcohol abuse.
Everyone knows that it’s bad for you…your
liver will fail or you will get brain damaged...
People still do it partly because of peer pressure...Your friends do it [so] you do too.”
– Vusi D, Manguang, 16
8
‘The Positive No’ is a good
technique for resisting and
maintaining your cred. Unlike an
ordinary “no”, a ‘Positive No’ begins
with a “yes” and ends with a “yes”.
The Positive No involves, first of all,
saying yes to yourself and what is
important to you.
Here’s an example:
Yes: “I need to go to soccer
practice because I want to play
for South Africa one day.”
No: “So I cannot go drinking with
you.”
9
Yes!: “I value our friendship. I still
want to hang out with you, I’m
just choosing not to drink with
you.”
Physically asserting yourself will
make people take your ‘no’
seriously:
Stand up straight
Make eye contact
Say how you feel clearly,
don’t mumble
Hollywood starlet, Drew Barrymore, grew up in the
limelight. She starred in the blockbuster, ET, when she
was only seven. But by age 11, she was an alcoholic,
and was admitted to rehab at 14. Her turbulent teens
threatened to compromise her talent and ruin her
future. But in her 20s, she learnt to say “no”, regained
her career focus, and today is a leading film producer
and actress. #TurnItRound.
Tjhe e tiileng e akaretsa, sa
pele, hore ee ho wena le se
bohlokwa ho wena. “Tjhe e
tiileng” e qala ka “ee”mme e
fella ka ëe.”.
But there are many tragic stories
that did not end as well: Lebo
Mathosa being killed by her own
(allegedly drunk) driver; Amy
Winehouse dying young after an
extreme alcohol habit and our
own Brenda Fassie whose wild
alcohol-fuelled lifestyle eventually
resulted in her death.
“Kuleminyaka, sivamise ukuba ngamavukela
mbuso, senze okwehluke kwaphela kulokho
abazali bethu abasitshela khona.
Esikhundleni sokuba sikhunjuzwe
(sithethiswe) njalo...sifuna ukuba sithathe
isinyathelo sokuzilawula.”
- uAyanda, Egoli –oneminyaka engu-15
Enye intsha iqala ukusebenzisa
kabi utshwala ineminyaka
engu-12 nangaphansi.
10
Is it becoming a serious problem?
If you think you or a friend has a problem with
drinking, trust your instincts and talk to them about
it, or get help, immediately. Some of the signs below
could be normal behavior at your age, but if you spot
several at the same time, or suddenly, or they are
extreme, then there might be a problem.
“Ha ke bona batho ba nwa mebileng moo
ke dulang teng, hangata ba tahilwe. Le
ha nka tshwara e le nngwenyana feela, e
nkgopotsa bona, e etsa hore ke ikutlwe ke
le molahlehi.”
- Poppy D, Johannesburg,16.
Some clues include: mood swings, secrecy,
absenteeism, reduced concentration, alcohol-smelling
breath or ‘disguise’ substances like mint mouthwash
and lots of gum.
11
Caroline – we met her earlier –
became an alcoholic in under two
years, by the time she was 15.
She was kicked out of home, lived in
houses with people she never knew,
blacked out so many times she lost
count, had unprotected sex enough
times to be scared and had been
involved in two drunken driving
accidents.
After the second accident, a nurse in
the hospital got her into a programme,
and she managed to turn the whole
thing around. Because of her “wasted
years” as she calls them, she only
passed matric at 21, but at least
she did. Now she’s studying fashion
design, and has a future.
Some of the signs of excessive
alcohol consumption:
• Being more secretive than usual
• Wild mood swings
• Missing school, bunking classes,
rebelling against family and school
rules
• Getting new friends and refusing to
introduce you to them. They could even
suddenly stop being friends with you
altogether
• Having an “I don’t care attitude”: poor
personal hygiene, not being interested
in activities they were interested in
before
• Finding alcohol in their school bag
or locker
• Smelling alcohol on their breath
• Blackouts, poor concentration, blood
shot eyes, lack of coordination or
slurred speech
• Also watch out for sudden heavy usage
of mouthwash or chewing gum (for the
smell) or eye drops (for bloodshot eyes)
“When you drink, you basically miss out
on your childhood. Underage drinking
breeds promiscuity and irresponsibility
and you forget what matters most...
basically, you grow up too fast.”
– Steven M, Rustenburg, 17
12
Getting help
If you think you have a drinking problem, or you have
a friend with a problem, don’t ignore it and hope
it was just ‘a couple of rough weekends’. It could
happen again and it could get worse. Do something
about it. Talk to them, or involve a teacher or even
your friend’s parent or caregiver.
If it’s yourself that you are concerned about, ask for
help from someone older that you trust. Here are
some contacts that will keep your approach
anonymous, and are equipped to really help.
It’s a choice. You Decide.
13
Uma ucabanga
ukuthi usunenkinga
yotshwala, noma unomngane
onalenkinga,ungayithatheli
phansi ucabange ukuthi
bekuyizimpelasonto ezimbi.
Kusengenzeka futhi mhlawumbe
kube kubi kakhulu.
You Decide Helpline*
0800 33 33 77
www.youdecide.org.za
SADAG (SA Depression & Anxiety Group)
(011) 262 6396
Life Line
(0861) 322 322
UCT Child Clinic
(021) 650 3900
Alcoholics Anonymous
(0861) 435 722
Al-Anon
(031) 304 1826
(021) 595 4517
Sources:
Substance Abuse and The Young: Taking Action (Medical Research Council -June 2009), A Word About Parenting Teens (American Academy of
Paediatrics), Tips for Teens: The Truth About Alcohol (US Department of Health & Human Services), The Progression of Alcohol (The South African
Depression & Anxiety Group), Young Peoples Drinking- Key Facts and Issues (International Center for Alcohol Policies), Young People and Alcohol
(International Center for Alcohol Policies), Alcohol’s damaging effects on the brain (The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism),
Teenagers and Alcohol: A guide for parents and teenagers (The Industry Association for responsible Alcohol Use), Make a difference- Talk to your
child about alcohol (The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism), What every educator needs to know (Sarah Fisher, Bridges 19992003, updated by Cape Info), Are you an addict or alcoholic? (SANCA guidelines based on John Hopkins University Hospital’s questionnaire),
Statistics (Central Drugs Authority, 2009), Winning your child (The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia
University, John MacArthur and ToughLove SA), Youth and substance abuse (Die Beeld, 05.03.2010) “Keeping Your Kids Drug-Free” (National
Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, Office of National Drug Control Policy), Start Talking efore they start drinking (Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Service Administration), Underage drinking and illicit drug use (Findings from the 2002–2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health);
Teen Binge Drinking (The South African National Youth Risk Behaviour Survey 2002), The Link Between Early Alcohol Use and Alcohol Dependence
(The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)
*The SAB ‘You Decide’ helpline is an advisory helpline only, and SAB, the DTI and NYDA cannot be held liable for any consequences
arising from the advice.
14
This material was prepared
by the programme’s funding partners:
the Department of Trade and Industry,
the National Youth Development Agency and the
South African Breweries, in collaboration with the
International Center for Alcohol Policies and other
subject matter experts including the ARA and
South African education and curriculum
specialists. Material is not copyrighted and
may be reproduced and distributed.
www.youdecide.org.za.
You Decide.