Praia, Dec. 23, 2025 (Lusa) - Cabo Verde's Menos Álcool Mais Vida (Less Alcohol More Life) Foundation is seeking financial support to update national data on alcohol consumption in Cabo Verde, whose latest results date from 2021, its leader said on Tuesday.
"We have not been able to secure funding so far. However, this is essential because the available data is from 2021 and the perception, based on direct empirical observation, is that the situation has worsened since then, without clear indicators to confirm this," Manuel Faustino told Lusa.
The 2021 study pointed to the increasingly early onset of alcohol consumption among young people and an increase in consumption among women, phenomena which, according to the official, have intensified.
"This is data that we continue to verify. These are two indicators that the previous study already had, but our perception is that this has been intensifying. We have no doubts, we just need to measure it," he pointed out.
The previous study was supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which was initially willing to fund a new project by the foundation.
"However, due to financial difficulties, this possibility was eventually put aside," he explained.
Manuel Faustino said that the foundation is trying to carry out a new study in partnership with the National Statistics Institute (INE) and is seeking funding from various entities, including the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
‘"Although Unicef is more focused on children, alcohol consumption also affects this group," he said.
The foundation has sought to establish dialogue with UNODC, which deals with issues related to drugs, alcohol and other psychoactive substances, as well as with government entities and companies, but without success so far.
Manuel Faustino said that the study is essential to guide public policies and interventions in the field.
"We need to know where we stand and which areas are most problematic," he said, adding that the foundation has been invited to participate with the Alcohol and Other Drugs Coordination Commission in defining proposals related to the issue, in discussion with the ministry of health, which could pave the way for giving greater priority to the problem of alcohol.
While the study is not being carried out, the foundation has been focusing on training professionals and other stakeholders.
In November, it carried out an intensive programme with a Portuguese specialist in the city of Praia and on the island of São Vicente, involving health professionals, police forces, teachers, social workers, community leaders and campaign ambassadors.
The activities also involved university students and patients of hospitals and therapeutic communities, with 329 people participating in person and remotely.
"This training allows us to create temporary tools, but also conditions for continuous intervention, especially during this festive season," he explained.
The foundation also mobilised its ambassadors in all districts to intensify the dissemination of messages through social networks, with plans to resume its radio and television programme in January.
The Menos Álcool Mais Vida Foundation was created in September 2022 to continue the campaign of the same name, launched in 2018 by the former president of Cabo Verde, Jorge Carlos Fonseca, when Manuel Faustino was Chief of Staff.
The alcohol law came into force in Cabo Verde on 5 October 2019 and prohibits any form of advertising of alcoholic beverages, the sale to minors under the age of 18 and on public roads, street vending or in kiosks.
Alcoholism is a serious social and public health problem in Cabo Verde.
RS/AYLS // AYLS
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