Responsible drinking and getting help

LiquorSA records South African drinks for collectors and readers aged 18 and over. Collecting a bottle and drinking it are different things, and for some people drinking stops being a choice. This page is for them and for the people around them.

Signs that drinking has become a problem

• You drink more, or for longer, than you meant to, and attempts to cut down keep failing.
• You need more alcohol than before to feel the same effect.
• You feel shaky, sweaty, anxious or sick in the morning, and a drink makes it go away.
• Drinking is costing you work, money, sleep or the trust of people close to you, and you carry on anyway.
• You hide how much you drink, or feel defensive when someone asks.

Two or three of these is reason enough to talk to someone. You do not have to hit a crisis first.

Do not stop suddenly if you drink heavily every day

For a person who is physically dependent, stopping all at once can cause seizures, hallucinations and delirium tremens, which can be fatal. A medically supervised detox manages withdrawal safely over several days. See a doctor or a detox clinic before you stop, not after.

Helping someone else

Speak to them when they are sober, about specific things you have seen rather than labels. Do not cover for them or pay for the drinking. Offer to make the first call with them. Family members can get support of their own, whether or not the drinker accepts help.

Where to get help in South Africa

• Department of Social Development Substance Abuse Helpline: 0800 12 13 14, free and open around the clock, or SMS 32312. Listed by SADAG.
• Alcoholics Anonymous South Africa: free peer meetings across the country.
• Alcohol Addiction Help in South Africa: information on alcohol addiction and residential treatment, based in Cape Town.
• Alcohol Detox Johannesburg: medically supervised alcohol detox in Gauteng.
• Changes Rehab South Africa: private addiction rehab with medically supervised detox, 24-hour care and medical aid cover, at four facilities in Johannesburg. 081 444 7000.

The law and your health

• Selling or supplying alcohol to anyone under 18 is illegal in South Africa.
• The legal limit for driving is 0.05 g of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, and 0.02 g for professional drivers. The safe amount before driving is none.
• No amount of alcohol is known to be safe in pregnancy. Alcohol can cause foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which is lifelong.

If you or someone near you is in danger right now, call 10111 or 112 from a mobile phone.