This article published in the International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research found that participatory, community-centred mapping is a feasible and valuable approach for mapping alcohol availability. Using a mixed-methods design, the researchers combined participatory GIS mapping by trained community members with focus group discussions and key informant interviews to document licensed and unlicensed alcohol outlets, trading practices, and community perceptions of alcohol availability. The authors also found that the community saw alcohol accessibility, long outlet trading times, outlet density, and poor licensing and enforcement as contributors to alcohol’s ubiquitous availability in two South African communities: Ga-Rankuwa and Thembalethu.
What does this mean for FORUT partners
This study provides strong evidence that community participation can be a powerful tool for alcohol policy advocacy. FORUT partners could adapt participatory mapping approaches to document alcohol outlet density, trading hours, unlicensed sales, and proximity to schools, health facilities, and places of worship. Such locally generated evidence can strengthen advocacy for licensing reforms, outlet density restrictions, reduced trading hours, and better enforcement of existing laws. The findings also reinforce the importance of engaging communities in alcohol governance and monitoring systems. Community-generated data can help expose regulatory failures, support implementation of WHO SAFER measures, and build public demand for stronger alcohol control policies.
Recommended citation:
Ramsoomar, L., Maker-Diedericks, A., Mtimkulu, M., Morris, N., Seocharan, I., & Chirwa, E. (2026). Feasibility of a community-centred approach to mapping alcohol outlet density and outlet trading times in two South African communities. International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research, 14(2), 92–104. https://doi.org/10.7895/ijadr.653