Socio-economic determinants of alcohol consumption for South Africa

Aims: To examine the socio-economic factors associated with alcohol consumption in South Africa. Design: Cross-sectional study exploring the various socio-economic factors associated with alcohol consumption in South Africa. Setting: South Africans older than 15 years across the country's nine provinces. Participants: Adult respondents of the drinking status and alcohol intensity questions in Wave 4 of the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS; n = 28 401). Measures: Alcohol, demographic, emotional well-being, health and neighbourhood variables. Findings: White and Mixed Heritage (referred to as 'Coloured' in South Africa) adults were more likely to consume alcohol, while Asian/Indian and White adults were less likely to drink in a heavy episodic way, or 'binge drink' (five or more standard drinks in a day) relative to African/Black adults. Men with good self-perceived health were less likely to binge drink than those with excellent health while men who resided in neighbourhoods where alcohol and drug abuse were perceived to be either fairly common or very common, were more likely to binge drink. Women who exercised more than three times a week were also more likely to drink and binge drink. Women with a poor self-perceived health status were less likely to binge drink than those perceived to be in excellent health. Adults who smoked were more likely to drink and binge drink relative to non-smoking adults. Reported average monthly household spending on alcohol for binge drinkers was low. There was evidence of drinking and binge drinking among pregnant women. Conclusions: In South Africa, race, age, gender, religion, education, and smoking were associated with drinking and binge drinking. Groups identified at greater risk of binge drinking warrant prioritisation when planning future national alcohol interventions.