Media statement

Alcohol and homicide in the Western Cape

South Africa has one of the highest levels of absolute alcohol consumption per drinker in the world with 20.1liters per adult per year versus 16.1 litres per adult per year in Ukraine and Russia. Coincidently, South Africa has one of the highest levels of violent crimes in the world, with the leading cause of death being interpersonal violence.

The Medical Research Council’s Gender and Health Research Unit conducted a study on the role of alcohol use on female homicide cases in the Western Cape. The study was conducted amongst female homicide victims, 14 years and older, who were admitted to a mortuary within a year. Their blood alcohol consumption levels (BAC), below legal alcohol limit and above legal alcohol limit for driving in South Africa, were measured at their time of death.

Some of the findings revealed that 45% of female victims of fatal injury had a blood alcohol concentration that was 0.5% above the legal alcohol limit for driving in South Africa. The research does not suggest that male heavy drinking alone causes intimate partner violence but rather draws attention to women’s use of alcohol and associated vulnerability. Women are likely not able to defend themselves or elude a possible attack when under the influence of alcohol.

“The study highlights that both men and women consume high levels of alcohol and that often both are under the influence when a woman is killed. The very high BAC of women who were killed by sharp and blunt force is revealing as this shows us the dangerous nature of communal drinking and its relationship with interpersonal violence,” says Shanaaz Mathews of the Gender and Health research unit.  “When women are drunk they are unable to protect themselves rendering her vulnerable to be killed,” she adds.

For more information contact the Gender and Health Research Unit
Tel: +27 (0) 21 9380445
Fax: +27 (0) 21 938-0310