“We Need To Cleanse This Poison”: Woman Complains About Mzansi’s Method of Celebrating

• A South African woman shared a viral video expressing concern about how people in the country turn to alcohol for every celebration, problem or life event
• The content creator argued that South Africans have developed a culture where drinking has become the default response, and people are numb
• Her message sparked debate among viewers, with some agreeing that alcohol dependency is a serious problem in communities, while others questioned how realistic change would be

A South African woman has sparked heated debate after sharing her thoughts on how people in the country handle life's ups and downs through drinking. The video, posted on 7 September 2025, went viral with over 1.26 million views, 3,000 reactions, and 200 comments as she called out what she sees as a dangerous pattern in South African culture.

In the video, the woman explained her frustration with how alcohol has become the go-to solution for every situation. She pointed out that whether people are happy, sad, stressed, or celebrating a promotion, they turn to drinking as their primary coping mechanism. Her concern extended to young people, noting that even teenagers believe they need alcohol to have fun or socialise.

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The woman argued that this mindset needs to change urgently because most people are just numb. She suggested that instead of reaching for a bottle, people should seek therapy for their problems, find different social circles, and discover healthier ways to celebrate and cope with life's challenges.

Mzansi reacts to alcohol criticism

Her message received mixed reactions from South Africans, with many engaging in the comments section:

@Sazi Ntsika Mchumane Mhlahlo questioned:

"Awuseli moss wena, so what's the problem?😮"

@Afuh SA Soundz responded:

"Don't blame the player, blame the game."

@Emmanuel Dagreat Madihlaba made a serious point:

"They say it's easy to control a drunk nation. Every corner in kasi, there is a tarven."

@Sandisile Sile agreed:

"True, hey!"

@Bongani Nyembe supported her:

"You've got a point."

@Ndileka Ndish Tembani echoed:

"Very true, dear."

@Nomzingisi Ntlabathi Nomze T encouraged:

"Say it louder, nontombi 🙌🙌🙌"

@Gzs Pronounced Jesus raised another concern:

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"And most of the alcohol sold in these spots are fake."

@Vee Za Sityebi offered perspective:

"What if they don't wanna change... Remember, you can't force someone to quit something until their time comes🤞🤞"

South Africa's drinking patterns

According to the DTIC, South Africa's relationship with alcohol is complex and concerning. Content creator @Wendy Somlavi's observations align with official statistics showing the country's troubling drinking patterns.

South Africa’s alcohol consumption levels are striking. On average, adults consume 9.5 litres of pure alcohol per year, well above the global average of 6.13 litres. But the bigger concern lies with drinkers themselves: although 73% of the population abstains, those who do drink average 34.9 litres annually, the fifth-highest level in the world.

The country also records a drinking patterns score of 4 out of 5, reflecting widespread risky behaviours such as binge drinking and heavy episodic consumption, which carry serious public health and social consequences.

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View the Facebook clip below:

Other South Africans raising awareness

• Briefly News recently reported on a woman who stopped skin bleaching and shared her honest transformation after seven days, but her brave decision to go public had deeper motivations than people expected.
• A Durban driving instructor filmed a driver who had fallen asleep at a red traffic light, though his decision to share the footage divided opinions about privacy versus public safety.
• A cybersecurity expert discovered over 1,000 South African personal documents freely available online and warned citizens, but the way these documents ended up there shocked everyone.

Source: Briefly News