A video shared on social media has gone viral. Students from an alleged Stellenbosch secondary school were filmed drinking alcohol and rolling a ‘joint’ in school uniform, at school.
As seen in the footage, a group of students are sitting outside at what appears to be break time. Other students are walking and talking in the background. But, instead of pulling out a packed lunch, one student pulls out a quart of beer and pours a glass.
Another student appears to be rolling a ‘joint’ (marijuana). In a rough English translation, the voice behind the camera is heard saying, “We have cigarettes, we have dagga, we have everything. All the lekker things.”
The school’s badge and comments posted on social media allege that the footage was taken at a secondary school in Stellenbosch. Many of the comments express sadness and disappointment.
Cape {town} Etc has contacted the institution in question and are pending a response. Upon following up, the school’s receptionist confirmed that they have received Cape {town} Etc’s request for comment.
The video is a reminder of the uphill battle South Africa faces when it comes to alcohol dependency. According to research conducted by Aware.org, 50% of teenagers in South Africa drink alcohol. Along with this, various studies conducted by the organisation found that someone who starts drinking under the age of 18 is four times more likely to develop alcohol dependency than someone who starts consuming alcohol at the age of 20.
“South African children are drinking from a young age, and our country has the unenviable ranking of being the sixth-largest consumer of alcohol in the world (WHO). Statistics show that our young people are in fact, drinking from as young as 13 years of age (which is illegal) – a sobering fact. We have to start the conversation earlier to effectively address the problem of underage drinking,” says Ingrid Louw, aware.org CEO.
Visit the SADD website or contact the toll-free SANCA substance abuse hotline on 0800 121314 or SMS 32312 if alcohol is having a negative impact on your life or someone close to you.
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Picture: Screenshot / Facebook
