A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AMONG YOUNG WOMEN IN GARDEN COMPOUND-LUSAKA

Abstract

Alcohol Abuse is known to be one of the highest social problems in the world that is commonly 
practiced, especially among the women. This report is based on the study that was conducted to 
assess the extent and effects of alcohol abuse among the young women in garden compound, in 
line with objectives which are; To assess the level of alcohol consumption among women, to 
identify factors that lead to alcohol consumption among women, to evaluate the effect and 
challenges that comes with alcohol consumption among women, to investigate the impact of 
alcohol consumption among women on the process of socialization, to critically analyze the 
impact of alcohol consumption among women on national development, to make 
recommendation on how the government can control and regulate the consumption of alcohol 
among women.
Alcohol Abuse means excessive and compulsive drinking of alcohol. However, when one
continuously drinks alcoholic drinks excessively and cannot live without taking the alcoholic 
drinks, this situation is known as alcoholism. Alcoholism/alcohol abuse has been a very huge 
problem in Zambia, it is known to be cause of many socio-economic problems in the country and 
it has hazardous impacts on the health of consumers, as well as on their environment. Alcohol 
Abuse/Alcoholism is highly practiced now by most young women in Zambia, this is very 
saddening and it has been going on for many years which is why I chose to conduct a study on 
alcohol abuse among the women in garden compound, Lusaka district, Zambia in order to assess 
on effects and the extent of alcohol abuse among the women. However, from the discoveries in 
the study, the women consume Alcohol for various reasons; some drink for leisure, pleasure, for 
relaxation, for celebration etc.
According to the study, there are various effects of alcohol abuse; the drinkers feel happy, dizzy, 
hyper-active, numb, some become sexually active, and some of the respondents become aggressive, sharpness of sight is lost, cirrhosis of the liver etc. Majority of the respondents know the 
effects of Alcohol Abuse out of personal experience, were taught by a teacher, friend or guardian 
which are; damage of body organs, causes memory loss and lack of concentration, brings about 
financial problems and poverty, brings about destructive behavior, it increases the number of 
school dropouts and early pregnancies, it increases crime rate, and other various effects.

However, some respondents happen to know the impacts of Alcohol Abuse on the Environment 
which are; Alcohol Abuse causes damage of property, it leads to crime and brings aboutconflicts, 
it causes pollution (land pollution and noise pollution), it brings poverty in families and creates 
joblessness, causes less productivity among the youth, and no proper society growth. Although
Alcohol Dependence (Addiction); alcohol dependence is a situation where a consumer of alcohol 
cannot live without alcohol because their psychological, sociological and physiological system 
depends on alcohol; the alcohol distorts the way the body functions. Majority of the respondents 
think Alcohol is good for their health they do not plan on withdrawing or reducing from 
consuming Alcohol due to various reasons; it refreshes their mind, helps them to ease stress, it 
burns fats, it helps them to kill boredom; and they do not plan on withdrawing or reducing from 
consuming Alcohol because they are addicted to it. Most respondents have been consuming 
Alcohol as early as 16-25yrs and some of them take the risk of drinking Alcohol and driving. 
Even so, majority of the respondents have experienced health problems due to Alcohol 
consumption such as; fever, stomach pains and gases, spinal problem, fighting, they don’t go for 
work, lack of appetite, loss of memory, lack of concentration, mal-absorption of nutrients etc.
However, most respondents who consume Alcohol get engaged in risky sexual practices such as; 
having unprotected sex while drunk, having sex and not remembering everything that happens 
during the act that may lead to spread of HIV/AIDS and STIs. From the study, it was discovered 
that most people who have someone in their family or friends who consumes Alcohol also 
consume Alcohol. This shows that a person’s environment can also contribute to them resulting 
to Alcohol consumption.