While the nation typically spends about R414-million a day on alcohol, that figure almost triples during the week between Christmas and New Year, according to consumer insights firm Eighty20.
However, the 2025 season showed that the South African palate is not a monolith. Between non-alcoholic drinking options and the increased popularity of tinned wine, the Dezemba spirit is being poured into very different glasses.
The heavy hitters and festive flips
South Africa is no lightweight when it comes to global consumption rankings. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global average consumption of alcohol is about 5.5 litres per person per year. South Africa sits well above…
Gold Production: Once the largest gold producer in the world, South Africa still
holds significant reserves, although production has declined in recent years.
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Fun South African Fact: South Africa is full of record-breaking animals.
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Fun South African Fact: Mandela’s house on Vilakazi Street is now a museum. The man who the street was named after, Dr BW Vilakazi, was a poet, novelist and intellectual. He helped develop the written form of both isiZulu and siSwati and helped put together the isiZulu dictionary.