Against the repeated calls for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to support its claims with data, NAFDAC has declared that more than half of Nigerian minors and underage children buy alcohol for themselves, often in small sachets and bottles, according to details of a national survey released yesterday by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
According to the agency, the survey, conducted in collaboration with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), shows that 54 per cent of minors buy alcohol for themselves in packaging that can be easily concealed, adding that it reinforces its controversial ban on small-pack alcoholic beverages.
The decision by NAFDAC to phase out alcohol in sachets and bottles smaller than 200 millilitres has been opposed by manufacturers, distributors and petty traders who argue it threatens livelihoods and disrupts supply chains.
“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 (sachets and less than 200ml bottles) can reduce the menace of underage drinking,” Adeyeye stated.
The national survey on underage drinking in Nigeria also revealed that nearly one in 10 children below the age of 13 consumes alcohol daily, drawing attention to the extent of early exposure to alcohol among minors and raising fresh concerns about its public health implications.
According to the release, the findings are drawn from a survey conducted by Research and Data Solutions Ltd, Abuja, and sponsored by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) in collaboration with NAFDAC.
The study assessed access to alcohol and patterns of consumption among minors, underage persons and adults across the country.
NAFDAC said the survey was carried out in response to growing evidence that alcohol abuse among young people is on the rise in Nigeria, driven largely by increased availability, production, importation and consumption of alcoholic beverages over the years. The agency noted that alcohol remains one of the most widely abused substances among youths, with easy access identified as a major contributory factor.
The study was conducted across six states representing Nigeria’s six geo-political zones: Gombe, Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Anambra, Lagos and Rivers. A total of 1,788 respondents participated in the quantitative survey to generate statistically sound inferences at a 95 per cent confidence level.
Respondents were categorised by age, with those below 13 years classified as minors, those aged 13 to 17 described as underage, and individuals aged 18 years and above regarded as adults. Quantitative data were collected using multiple-choice questionnaires administered by trained data collectors through the KoboCollect application, following consent from participants.
Findings from the survey showed that access to alcohol among minors and underage persons remained widespread. More than half of respondents in this category, representing 54.3 per cent, reported buying alcohol for themselves. Nearly half, or 49.9 per cent, patronised retailers selling alcohol in sachets and PET bottles, while others accessed alcohol from liquor stores, restaurants and supermarkets.