adminAccording to the latest global status report on alcohol, Zimbabwe is ranked 12th in Africa on the list of top beer-drinking nations. Statistics from Delta Beverages, the country’s dominant beer brewer commanding about 96 percent of the market, also substantiate the view. In May, the brewer said its lager business had grown by 23 percent on last year’s level. The company said Zimbabweans consumed 198,1 million hectolitres (a hectolitre is equivalent to 100 litres) of lager beer last year, and 335,4 million hectolitres of opaque beer.
There is also home-brewed beer and imported intoxicants which are not captured in the official statistics. In addition to local beer, nowadays many people, especially the youth and kombi crews, are drinking imported brands which have exceedingly high alcohol content, some nearing 50 percent.
They include Tentacao popularly known as “Thathankawu”, Double Punch, Masters, Zed, Diamond, and Histalix. Their popularity rose at the height of the economic crisis and drinkers appear to have acquired a taste for them.
Most of these brands are smuggled into the country, mainly from Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique. Because their alcohol content is extremely high, consumers sometimes suffer immediate and long term health and social problems. Some people even die after drinking them.
But what is surprising is that most people still drink them despite the concomitant challenges they pose.
Many ignore the health problems that they can potentially suffer as a result of the spirits because they see drunkenness as an easy way out of problems. Others say the beverages are so affordable that with R12 one can buy enough to become drunk the whole day.
“Thathankawu”, which is smuggled from Mozambique, is commonly available in Bulawayo especially at Renkini Long Distance Bus Terminus. Its alcohol content is 43 percent and is found in 250ml containers, costing only R12.
Like other potent spirits, the container of “Thathankawu” is seductively decorated. It has a symbol of red lips on its container. Red lips symbolise sexuality; so the image might be designed to lure people to buy it. Some commuter omnibus crews said that they drink “Thathankawu” and other brands in its range because they want to relieve themselves of stress — and do so quickly.
“We do not earn much so we have to buy what we can afford,” a crew member, who identified himself as Khumalo (29) said.
“After drinking we are relived from our daily problems and our morale will always be high. When we do not have money we just contribute a few rands each and we drink. We just like them because they are cheap.”
He acknowledged that “Thantankawu” has some side effects, like a regular drinker having swollen legs. Despite all these possible health effects, he said he drinks it more than twice a day.
Khumalo said he drinks alcohol for pleasure and fun. In addition to “Thathankawu,” he favours Zed.
“They are very powerful; we become drunk much faster than when taking amasese”.
Other kombi crews said that they drink alcohol so that they get drunk and can entertain customers on board their vehicles.
A vendor who sells the “hot stuff” said he is making a lot of money because people find his products affordable.
“Most people including those who have bottle stores in rural areas come down here to buy these goods. We make about $50 per day. We used to face problems with council police who patrol the streets to find illegal vendors but now we have new tactics,” said the vendor who preferred anonymity.
Basically all vendors interviewed refused to divulge information on how they smuggle their stuff into the country.
They sell Diamond in sachets that are in 60ml each. It costs $1.
The sachet has a picture of a beautiful lady, possibly as a way to attract male drinkers, who arguably constitute the bulk of alcohol takers in the country. With 45 percent alcohol content, vendors warn drinkers to dilute it with Coke.
While some names are attractive, others are a bit frightening like Double Punch. The name suggests what Double Punch is capable of.
In an apparent show of potency, the container has the image of a muscular man launching a forward punch. It has 43 percent alcohol content and costs only R12.
All the images that are placed on the alcoholic drinks are an attempt to link drinking with valued personal attributes such as success, sociability and romance.
A Double Punch drinker who preferred to be called Stuff (20) said, “When you wake up in the morning you experience some joint pains and you feel weak. He drinks it regardless.
“We drink it for the purpose of having fun, but it is dangerous,’ he said.
Zed is also popular in Bulawayo and it is sold in 250ml units and is sold for R12 each. Consumers mix it with amasese or Coke to tame its bitter taste. Some have stopped drinking the potent brews because of health concerns.
Siyabonga Moyo (34) said people should stop drinking them because cdoing so endangers endangres their lives. A member of Alcoholic Anonymous said there is a probability that some people experience blackouts because of consumption of the strong brews. A blackout is a situation whereby the brain stops thinking. He warned that the alcoholic drinks being smuggled into the country could result in more people becoming alcoholics. An alcoholic is someone who has a constant craving for alcoholic beverages and finds it compulsive to drink them, and even to buy them.
People who take alcoholic beverages are classified in two categories — social drinkers and alcoholics.
Social drinkers drink alcoholic drinks and they are not controlled by it. This is because their systems are able to wash away alcohol hence the person can take care of his body after drinking. Alcoholics are people who fail to control themselves after taking beer. For these people, the best they can do is to completely stop drinking so that they can stop triggering the alcohol in their bodies.
The alcohol in the brain is called tetrahydrolso-quinoline (THIQ). Once an alcoholic drinks alcohol it triggers the THIQ and this will force a person to drink until the last cent.
Mr Gerald, a member of Alcoholic Anonymous, said when alcoholics are happy they express it through drinking alcohol and when they are angry they also try to get rid of that anger through drinking alcohol.
“Alcoholics think of beer not anything else. After pay you just blow it all. The best thing people can do is to desist from taking alcohol,” said Mr Gerald.
Another member who preferred to be called Mr Billy urged the Government to help by putting in place mechanisms to manage alcohol consumption.
“Drivers who are convicted of drinking and driving should be first sent to us for rehabilitation so that they know how bad their actions are because some of them might be alcoholics,” he said.
Online Reporter