Mokebe Thulo | Chief Executive Officer | AWARE.org | mail me |
From rural towns to urban metros, South Africa continues to record driving under the influence cases at almost every police station.
Between July and September 2025, police made 20,442 arrests. At the same time, parents across the country are preparing for youth celebrations as exams end. This is especially true for matric learners celebrating their achievements. Behind each number stands a person, a choice, a life and a story.
Data shows that alcohol-related harm remains persistent, national and woven into everyday life. While enforcement is crucial, it cannot work alone. Therefore, behaviour change must carry the weight of prevention if the country wants a lasting impact in reducing alcohol-related harm.
Behaviour change at the community level
We see this work in action every day. Dimpho Tsotetsi, a youth sport leader with Altus Sport, reflected on her experience leading girls aged 11 to 13 in Mamelodi. These girls had already experimented with alcohol. Their stories mirrored her own experiences.
Early exposure at home and peer pressure in the community shaped the circumstances that led to underage drinking and alcohol-related harm.
Through group discussions and one-on-one sessions, Dimpho created safe spaces for the girls to share and reflect. Over time, she observed remarkable transformations. Positivity replaced uncertainty. Young girls began making choices that supported their personal growth and reduced alcohol-related harm.
Rehabilitation and personal accountability
Similarly, a NICRO participant shared how the programme changed his daily behaviour. He realised that his actions were wrong. The participant learned to pause, breathe and make calculated decisions instead of reacting.
He described the change as extending across his driving, work and personal life. These stories are not isolated. Instead, they show what becomes possible when education, awareness, rehabilitation and law enforcement work together to address alcohol-related harm.
Measuring impact across pillars
The numbers confirm the impact of this integrated approach. Last year, youth programmes reached 130,235 learners. Of these learners, 97 percent reported reduced alcohol use. Awareness initiatives empowered over 15,000 parents. In addition, 91 percent of learners reported improved ability to resist peer pressure.
The Roblox platform reached 24,615 young players. It achieved a nearly 80 percent approval rating. This result shows that meeting young people in their own spaces helps reduce alcohol-related harm.
In the road safety pillar, 7,585 roadblocks operated nationally. These roadblocks resulted in 14,190 DUI arrests. At the same time, educational engagement reached over 8,400 people. This approach validated positive choices instead of acting only as a punitive response. Maternal health programmes supported 3,442 mothers.
Of these mothers, 92 percent showed improved emotional wellbeing. In addition, training reached over 4,000 community members and 400 healthcare professionals in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder prevention. This approach goes beyond numbers. It focuses on combining interventions across society.
Education, awareness, law enforcement and rehabilitation must work together. Strong sector and organisational collaboration must coordinate this effort. When these systems align, the reduction of alcohol-related harm becomes visible and sustainable.
In conclusion
While December highlights law enforcement as the most visible force, lasting change comes from investing in meaningful behaviour change. When this work succeeds, communities break cycles and redirect resources to other pressing needs.
During the festive season, both risks and opportunities become clear. Every family deserves to celebrate safely. Every young person deserves a future free from preventable alcohol-related harm. More so, every community deserves the opportunity to change its story. Behind every statistic reports stands a life redirected.
The evidence for behaviour change is clear. What remains is the collective will to make it a national priority and to strengthen the partnerships and actions that turn prevention into reality.