Three years ago when we began planning our move to Namibia, we knew first hand about the poverty in our area. We also knew about the HIV/AIDS problem as well. One thing that I never thought I would have to deal with to a large degree would be alcohol abuse.
Over the last month I have found out just how bad this problem is here in Namibia and in our town of Grootfontein. The drinking age here is only 18, and that is part of the problem. The other problem is that the age limit is not regulated as tightly as it probably should be. It is quite easy for kids under 18 to walk into the local bars here in town and purchase beer. Top it off with the fact that there is nothing for young people to do here, so they mostly hang out at the bars and the billiard place and drink beer.
Beer is one thing that Namibia does not have to import, because they have a large German Brewery in the capital and it is heavily marketed. You can actually buy a Windhoek Lager for cheaper than you can buy water and any other cool drinks in the store. Normally a beer cost around .67 cent in USD.
I have many of my youth every week come to me and ask for prayer for a parent or a sibling that has an alcohol problem. Lots of people will spend more than half a months salary on beer and then call our church staff for prayer that God will help them with their finances because they do not have money to eat.
So please pray for the young people here as so many here are struggling with this problem, either themselves or because of a family member that has the problem.
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