January often comes with its own set of challenges—commonly dubbed “Januworry”—as parents prepare for back-to-school obligations, professionals return to work, and young people gear up for a new academic year. For many, financial strain and post-holiday stress contribute to added pressure.
AWARE.org reminds South Africans that a successful start to the year does not have to include alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Tips for a healthier start to 2025:
- Care-givers: Prioritise routines for both yourself and the children in your care. Encourage open conversations about challenges and foster a supportive home environment. Replace unwinding with alcohol with quality family time and alternatives like exercise and mindfulness.
- Under-18s and young learners: Returning to academic work can be overwhelming. Stay focused on your goals and lean on positive outlets such as sports, creative hobbies, or speaking to trusted mentors or teachers. AWARE.org supports under-18s by promoting the values of safety and sobriety, which play a crucial role in enabling future success and wellbeing. Remember, there is no place for alcohol in your development and success journey, and that the choices you make today determine your tomorrow.
- Professionals returning to work: Start with a structured plan to ease back into work rhythms. Avoid using alcohol to manage stress and instead prioritise self-care practices like a balanced diet and/or exercise, rest, and taking short breaks throughout the day.
These practical tips for starting 2025 on a healthier note align with AWARE.org’s ongoing commitment to safety, sobriety and wellbeing across South African communities, building on the impactful work achieved in 2024.
Reflecting on the past year, Mokebe Thulo, CEO of AWARE.org, shares:
“Last year, we saw remarkable results from our under-18 initiatives, which encouraged young people to prioritise safety and sobriety through our Makers of Tomorrow platform. We made significant progress with our Don’t Drink and Drive messaging and are proud of the conversations sparked around sober pregnancies—a critical issue in addressing alcohol misuse across all age groups. These programmes have laid the foundation for continued impact in 2025.”
Looking ahead, AWARE.org is sharpening its focus on innovative strategies to tackle critical challenges, such as the link between underage drinking and drinking during pregnancy, to help prevent fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The organisation is committed to empowering future generations while working closely with communities, healthcare professionals, law enforcement, and the alcohol industry to promote responsible behaviour across AWARE.org’s three key pillars. These collective efforts exemplify the whole-of-society approach, recognising that sustainable change is only possible through collaboration and shared responsibility.
AWARE.org encourages all South Africans—whether parents, learners, or professionals—to take advantage of its resources and support systems for making informed, responsible choices.
Mokebe concludes: “The value of addressing interconnected issues like underage drinking and FASD cannot be overstated. By adopting a whole-of-society approach and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, we can create a healthier, more hopeful future for generations to come. In 2025, we remain committed to driving innovation in our programmes, aligning them with harm-reduction initiatives and the needs of our communities, ensuring that everyone has the tools to thrive.”
