A nationwide survey by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has revealed that Rivers and Lagos lead in the consumption of alcoholic drinks sold in sachets and Polyethylene Terephthalate bottles among minors and underage persons.
NAFDAC said the study, conducted in collaboration with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria and carried out by Research and Data Solutions Ltd, Abuja, surveyed 1,788 respondents across six states between June and August 2021.
The agency said the report examined access to alcohol and drinking frequency among minors (below 13 years), underaged (13–17 years), and adults (18 years and above).
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who presented the findings of the survey on Tuesday,
said alcohol remains “one of the most widely used substances of abuse among youths.”
She noted that “the availability and easy access to alcohol have been identified as a contributory factor to the increasing alcohol consumption among minors.
“54.3 per cent of minors and underage respondents obtained alcohol by themselves. Nearly half (49.9 per cent) purchased drinks in sachets or PET bottles, with Rivers State recording the highest rates — 68.0 per cent for sachets and 64.5 per cent for PET bottles. Lagos followed with 52.3 per cent and 47.7 per cent, respectively, while Kaduna recorded 38.6 per cent sachet and 28.4 per cent PET bottle consumption.
“The proportion of drinks procured in sachets was higher among males (51.4 per cent) compared to females (41.5 per cent), and more in rural (50.1 per cent) compared to urban (45.3 per cent) locations,” the report stated.
The report also revealed that minors and underaged respondents also accessed alcohol from friends and relatives (49.9 per cent), social gatherings (45.9 per cent), and parents’ homes (21.7 per cent).
NAFDAC said among those who bought alcohol themselves, 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underaged respondents procured drinks in sachets, while 41.2 per cent of minors and 47.2 per cent of the underaged bought PET bottles.
On consumption frequency, 63.2 per cent of minors and 54.0 per cent of underaged persons were occasional drinkers, but 9.3 per cent of minors and 25.2 per cent of underaged respondents reported drinking daily.
According to the report, stricter regulation must be enforced so that “access to alcohol by children can be limited if pack sizes that can be easily concealed are not available.
“A ban on small pack sizes, including sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres, can reduce the menace of underage drinking.”
The report further appealed to parents, teachers, religious leaders, and the community to act, saying, “Consumption of alcohol by children should raise alarm for parents, teachers, religious leaders and the community at large.”
The report stated that the survey underscores the need for policy interventions and public awareness campaigns to curb underage drinking in Nigeria’s urban and rural communities.
