Rivers and Lagos Lead in Sachet Alcohol Consumption Among Minors

A nationwide survey conducted by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) indicates that Rivers and Lagos states are at the forefront of sachet and PET bottle alcohol consumption among minors and those underage.

The research, undertaken by NAFDAC in partnership with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria and executed by Research and Data Solutions Ltd, Abuja, involved 1,788 participants from six states between June and August 2021.

This study investigated alcohol accessibility and drinking patterns among three groups: individuals below 13 years, those aged 13 to 17, and adults aged 18 and above.

During a presentation of the survey findings on February 3, NAFDAC's Director- General, Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized that alcohol is often misused by youths across Nigeria.

She noted that the ease of access to alcoholic beverages plays a significant role in the rising trend of alcohol consumption among minors.

The findings revealed that approximately 54.3% of underage participants managed to obtain alcohol on their own. The data indicated that nearly half (49.9%) purchased drinks packaged in sachets or PET bottles, with Rivers State exhibiting the highest rates of 68.0% for sachets and 64.5% for PET bottles.

Lagos State followed closely with 52.3% and 47.7% respectively, while Kaduna recorded 38.6% for sachets and 28.4% for PET bottles.

The report also highlighted that a greater percentage of males (51.4%) than females (41.5%) acquired sachet drinks, with rural dwellers (50.1%) more likely than their urban counterparts (45.3%) to indulge in this practice.

It further detailed that minors and individuals underage accessed alcohol through friends and relatives (49.9%), social events (45.9%), and within their parents' homes (21.7%).

Among those who purchased alcohol, 47.2% of minors and 48.8% of underage individuals bought sachet drinks, while 41.2% of minors and 47.2% of those underage purchased alcohol in bottles.

The drinking habits noted that 63.2% of minors and 54.0% of underage respondents were occasional drinkers, with 9.3% of minors and 25.2% of underage individuals consuming alcohol daily.

The report advocates for heightened regulations, stating that restricting access to alcohol for children could be achieved by limiting the availability of packaging sizes that are easy to hide.

It recommends imposing a prohibition on small packaging, particularly sachets and bottles under 200 milliliters, as a strategy to reduce underage drinking prevalence.

Additionally, the report calls on parents, educators, religious authorities, and community members to take proactive steps, asserting that the issue of child alcohol consumption should raise serious concerns for all stakeholders involved.

NAFDAC underscored the urgency for more robust policy measures and ongoing public awareness initiatives aimed at curbing underage drinking across both urban and rural settings in Nigeria.