Sebete! Be the mentor you wish you had

The South African Breweries (SAB) is encouraging young adults to ‘Be the mentor you wish you’d had’ as part of the 18+ campaign to prevent underage drinking.

SAB hopes to inspire a movement of change with mentors across the country pledging to accept responsibility for educating a younger friend or relative about choices and their consequences.

Monwabisi Fandeso, SAB’s Corporate Affairs Director, said the company was concerned about the number of underage people who have experimented with alcohol. “With both long and short-term harmful consequences, we view this as unacceptable. SAB has therefore been committed to addressing this problem for a number of years already and this new 18+ campaign is our latest bold step towards combatting underage drinking.”  

150 South Africans from around the country aged between 23 and 30 years old have been appointed to champion the cause and rally other South Africans to rise to the challenge of being a mentor. These young adults will share their stories of the mistakes they made in their teenage years and the advice they are now be able to share with their younger mentees.

The 18+ “Be the Mentor” campaign which broke with a hard hitting TV commercial, is targeted at young adults who have the greatest influence over underage youths. “Teenagers need role models who set positive examples for them to follow and who offer inspiration and guidance,” said Pepe Marais, Chief Creative Officer, Joe Public, the agency responsible for the creative and production of the campaign.

Social entrepreneur and 18+ Campaign mentor Katlego Ditwana said she was lucky to grow up surrounded by family and friends who often gave good advice. “When I think of all the crazy, stupid things my mates and I got up to when we were kids, I wonder how different my life would have been if we’d taken that step too far, gone down the wrong path. Having relatives and family to guide me helped set me on the path I’m on today.”

 “South Africans are encouraged to go to www.sabstories.co.za/alcohol-issues/ to take the pledge, download the guides, sign up to be a mentor and make a difference to someone’s life starting today,” Fandeso said.

• Be the mentor: take the pledge now.
• Be the mentor you wish you had: Facebook page