Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Leslie London, MD, Health and Human Rights Programme, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Rd, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa, + 27 21 406 6524, ll@cormack.uct.ac.za, Chantel Mazok, B Tech, Research Department, DOPSTOP Association, P.O. Box 7011, Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa, Hassan Adam, M Tech, Department of Chemical Engineering, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, PO Box 1906, Bellville, 7535, South Africa, and Charles Parry, PhD, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Unit, Medical Research Council, PO Box 19070, Tygerberg, Cape Town, 7505, South Africa.

Background. Easy availability of cheap bulk alcohol (“papsak”), a historical legacy of the “dop” system on farms in South Africa is responsible for widespread risky drinking in the rural population. Objective. To provide data for policy interventions to restrict bulk alcohol availability a study was conducted in 2003 to establish the health and social impacts of bulk alcohol sales in the region. Methods. 569 respondents from two rural districts were interviewed. Chemical analyses were conducted on 51 bulk wine samples purchased from liquor outlets from 17 towns across the province. 92% of rural residents were drinkers; 68% reported consuming alcohol in the past 30 days. Papsak wine was the alcohol of choice for rural residents (37%) and was associated with lower socio-economic score compared to other alcohol forms (OR=6.00). 70% of drinkers scored 2 or more on the CAGE questionnaire. Problem drinking on the CAGE correlated with low socio-economic score and with drinking of papsak wine. Chemical analyses identified a number of neuro- and genotoxins in the samples, including mercury at levels above acceptable limits (12% of foil and 24% of plastic containers), phthalates (84%) and ochratoxin (10%). Conclusion. Given the known teratogenic effects of alcohol and documented rates of foetal alcohol syndrome amongst rural children in this region in excess of 5%, the presence of these toxins and the potential for interaction with alcohol is of great concern. Action to restrict availability of papsak wine to protect vulnerable rural populations in South Africa is warranted.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Recognize the social and health impact of easy availability of cheap alcohol on farming communities.
• 2. Discuss the relationship between socio-economic status, social marginalization and excessive alcohol consumption
• 3. Recognise the potential interaction of toxic exposures in poor quality wine with the known hazards of ethanol.
• 4. Identify policy options to restrict accessibility to cheap alcohol in vulnerable populations

Keywords: Alcohol, Toxicants

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered