Proximity and Density of Alcohol Outlets as a Risk Factor of Alcohol Abuse Amongst the Youth: A Case Study of a Border Town in Northern Region of Namibia

Abstract

The proximity and density of alcohol outlets are positively associated with drinking patterns and increase in alcohol consumption resulting in deviant behaviors such as excessive drinking, risky sexual behaviors, violent and crime in communities. This study was aimed at identifying and assessing the proximity, density of alcohol outlets as a risk factor to potential behavioral influence amongst the youth in a border town in the northern region of Namibia. The study was qualitative in nature and used ethnographic design in order to describe the proximity and density of alcohol outlets. Data was collected through unobtrusive observation method and analyzed by means of content analysis. The researchers used field notes to capture data observed. Eco-systems theory was used as a theoretical framework for this study. The study found out that there were quite a number of shebeens in close proximity of educational establishments, churches, public roads and residential areas which contribute to easy accessibility of alcohol by youth in and out of school. Various themes emerged from the study such as closeness of alcohol outlets to schools and churches and residential areas, mushrooming of shebeens, children and youth spending time at shebeens and Drunkenness. The study concluded that the closeness of alcohol establishments to residential areas, churches and schools influence drinking behaviors of people residing in these areas. Equally important, the more alcohol outlets in the environment, the higher the alcohol consumption which results in deviant behaviors and excessive drinking.

Alcohol Abuse as a Militating Factor against Quality of Life for Migrants’ Youth Population in Selected Provinces of South Africa

“…The researchers are aware that human body requires alcohol (Paton 2005), as such, they are not arguing that fact, but they speak of abuse of alcohol that militate against the quality of life in migrant youth. Evidently, there are numerous alcohol outlets that are mushrooming in rural communities globally and South Africa is not an exception (Hasheela et al 2019;Hasheela, Ananias and Schenek 2020). In light of that, participants in this study shared the sentiments that there is accessibility and availability of alcohol in their place of residence as migrants.…”

“…In essence, migrants' youth challenge of binge consumption should be viewed in conjunction to the environment they find themselves at. In that note, binge drinking could be as a result of high density of alcohol outlets in the community (Hasheela, Makhubele, Ananias, Matlakala, Mafa, Chiwalo, Rapholo, Freeman, Svinurai, and Hamuse 2019). On that score, an intervention to an individual and returning them to an environment with abundance of alcohol is a recipe to relapse.…”

Alcohol Use among High School Learners in the Peri-Urban Areas, South Africa: A Descriptive Study on Accessibility, Motivations and Effects

“…These findings confirm ease of alcohol access by learners both around schools and in the communities, consistent with studies conducted in South Africa [ 21 , 24 , 31 ] and other countries [ 39 , 59 , 60 ]. Hasheena et al [ 28 ], reported that 62% of grade 8 learners, 81% of grade 10 learners and 92% of grade 12 learners reported that alcohol was easily accessible to them in Namibia. Studies have reported that the more alcohol outlets within school vicinity and in the communities, the more likely youths will engage in drinking alcohol, and this has been reported in countries such as South Africa [ 21 , 24 , 31 ], Namibia [ 39 ], Brazil [ 59 ] and Canada [ 60 ].…”

“…Subjective or psychological availability refers to the perception of accessible people on alcohol and their response to alcohol marketing [ 26 ]. Researchers in other countries, including South Africa, have reported an established positive link between the number of liquor outlets found in a locality, as well as proximity, density of alcohol outlets and indulgence in alcohol use in the communities [ 24 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

“…Therefore, personal motivations and perceived social norms influence adolescent alcohol use [ 34 ]; it can be deduced that most adolescents consume alcohol as a result of the pleasure, peer group, and family influence [ 34 , 36 ]. In addition to South Africa [ 17 , 37 ], studies in other countries, such as Israel [ 38 ], Namibia [ 28 , 39 ], and Spain [ 36 ] have confirmed drinking motives and influences of significant persons among adolescents.…”