The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has highlighted the risks of underage drinking and minors consuming alcoholic beverages sold in small sachets and small PET bottle packaging.
NAFDAC explained that underage drinking can lead to violence and injuries, noting that alcohol is a significant contributor to youth suicides, murders, and car crashes or accidents.
The agency said alcohol also plays a major role in kidnappings, banditry, terrorism, and other harmful activities occurring daily in the country.
It listed the associated dangers, insisting that there is no justification to reverse the ban on the production, sale, and use of sachet alcohol and small PET bottle packs.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, stated that alcohol is one of the most commonly used substances by young people and is becoming an increasingly serious public health issue in Nigeria.
She said that easy availability and accessibility of alcohol have contributed to more teenagers drinking.
Prof. Adeyeye cited findings showing that 54.3% of minors and underage individuals obtain alcohol on their own from various sources, while 49.9% purchase it from stores selling drinks in sachets and PET bottles.
She noted that smaller percentages of underage individuals obtain alcohol from liquor stores (15.4%), restaurants (12.6%), and supermarkets (7.9%). The results also show that young people under the legal drinking age acquire alcohol from friends and family (49.9%) and at parties or social events (45.9%).
Among those who purchase alcohol for themselves, 47.2% of minors and 48.8% of underage individuals buy drinks in sachets, 41.2% of minors and 47.2% of underage individuals buy drinks in plastic bottles, and 27.6% of underage individuals buy alcohol in glass bottles.
She added that the purchase of drinks in sachets and PET bottles was most commonly reported in Rivers (68.0% and 64.5%), Lagos (52.3% and 47.7%), and Kaduna (38.6% and 28.4%) states, compared to other states.
“The percentage of drinks bought in sachets is higher among males (51.4%) than females (41.5%), and more common in rural areas (50.1%) than in urban areas (45.3%),” she added.
Prof. Adeyeye also said that most young people and underage individuals (54.3%) buy alcohol on their own, 49.9% get it from friends or family, 45.9% get it at social events, and 21.7% obtain it from their parents’ homes.
She emphasized: “Of the minors and underage individuals who get alcohol for themselves, 47.2% of minors and 48.8% of underage people get it in sachets, 41.2% of minors and 47.2% of underage people get it in PET bottles, and 27.6% of underage people get it in glass bottles.”
She explained that “drinking alcohol before the age of 21 can harm health and may damage parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus, responsible for memory, and the prefrontal cortex, which helps with thinking and impulse control.
“This can lead to long-term problems with learning, memory, and decision-making. Early drinking can also damage the liver and kidneys, cause high blood pressure, disrupt hormone levels and growth, and increase the risk of cancer later in life. It also raises the likelihood of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Youth who start drinking before age 15 are 41% more likely to develop alcohol dependence.
“Alcohol contributes significantly to youth suicides, violent deaths, and road accidents. It is also closely associated with unprotected sex, leading to unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Drinking frequently affects academic performance, causing lower grades, absenteeism, and impaired cognitive function.”
NAFDAC stated that the Senate has directed it not to grant any further extensions to the current moratorium and to strictly enforce the ban on sachet alcohol and alcohol in small (<200 ml) PET bottles. The agency also urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to support enforcement of the ban.
“They also urge the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to release the National Alcohol Policy, which includes a ban on alcohol in sachets and small-volume (<200 ml) packaging,” the DG added.
“The Senate further urged the National Orientation Agency and NAFDAC to work together to increase nationwide awareness about the dangers of drinking alcohol from sachets and small bottles. Banning small pack sizes, like sachets and bottles under 200 ml, could help reduce underage drinking.