By Nelly Mtema
MOST heavy drinkers start taking alcohol whey they are children, a baseline survey conducted by Tanzania Media Women's Association (TAMWA) on alcohol consumption and gender-based violence has revealed.
Giving findings of the survey conducted in three wards in Kinondoni district, Dr Severine Kessy said 38 per cent of the respondents had started taking alcohol since their childhood.
He said the survey, which was conducted in Makumbusho, Saranga and Wazo wards, indicated that high rates of alcohol consumption contributed to increasing gender-based violence to children, women and men.
The findings also show that men lead in alcohol consumption, by 48 per cent, while the educated consume by 80 per cent and the less educated by 50 per cent.
Dr Kessy named some of the gender-based violence caused by alcoholic effect as forced sex, harassment, battery and abandonment of families.
Excessive alcohol taking, he said, resulted in more street children, health problems and less family caring. "Despite the awareness on alcohol effects, people in the study areas were still drinking alcohol and adverts trigger youth to join the group", said Dr Kessy.
The survey calls for more anti-alcohol campaigns since high rates of alcohol use account for significant resource use. The findings also call for regulation of alcohol availability, especially to children under 18 years, particularly since after every 100 metres, a consumer is assured of a place where they can get one when in need.
The survey involved 550 questionnaires which were separated in sets of interviews for different groups such as children, youth, women and men.
He said more than 40 per cent of the respondents admitted to have come across gender-based violence, ranging from battery, forced sex and divorce, while some children said they were forced to move out of their homes due to violence when their guardians made the decision when they were intoxicated.
"When we were interviewing children, the majority said guardians and parents uttered abuses to them when they were intoxicated," said Dr Kessy.
Moreover, he said, they were surprised to find that men start consuming alcohol early in the morning, thus failing to go to their work.
He said of the respondent, 39 per cent said they chose to drink voluntarily, 38 per cent were influenced by friend or peers, 13 per cent by parents when they are under 10 years, and nine per cent when they were in a relationship in order to please the partner.
Dr Kessy said 31 per cent took up to five bottles per sitting, 19 per cent one bottle, 26 per cent consumed between three and four bottles while 24 per cent took only two bottles.
TAMWA Acting executive Director, Gladness Munuo said they are planning to launch a national campaign against alcohol consumption which cause gender based violence.
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