NAFDAC survey reveals 25.2% of underaged Nigerians drink alcohol daily

A new survey by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised alarm over the prevalence of underage drinking in Nigeria, revealing that more than half of minors and adolescents obtain alcohol directly by themselves.

Released on Tuesday by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the study titled Underage Drinking and Abuse of Alcohol: Access to Alcohol and Frequency of Consumption found that 54.3 per cent of persons under 18 years purchase alcoholic beverages independently, underscoring the ease of access and growing public health concerns.

“Alcohol remains one of the most widely used substances of abuse among youths and is a growing public health concern in Nigeria,” the report stated.

The nationwide survey covered 1,788 respondents across six states representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones: Gombe, Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory, Anambra, Lagos, and Rivers. Respondents were grouped into minors (below 13 years), underaged (13–17 years), and adults (18 years and above).

Findings showed that minors and underaged persons accessed alcohol through multiple channels: 49.9 per cent from friends and relatives, 45.9 per cent at social gatherings, and nearly half through retailers selling sachet packs and PET bottles. Smaller proportions purchased from liquor stores, restaurants, and supermarkets.

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Consumption patterns revealed that occasional drinking was most common, with 63.2 per cent of minors and 54.0 per cent of underaged respondents identifying as occasional drinkers. Alarmingly, 9.3 per cent of minors and 25.2 per cent of underaged persons reported daily alcohol intake.

The report highlighted packaging as a key factor enabling access, noting that “47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of the underaged procured drinks in sachets, while 41.2 per cent of minors and 47.2 per cent of the underaged procured drinks in PET bottles.”

To curb the trend, NAFDAC recommended banning small pack sizes such as sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres, which are easily concealed and affordable. The agency also urged parents, teachers, religious leaders, and communities to treat underage drinking as a serious public health issue.

Prof. Adeyeye stressed that stricter enforcement and community vigilance are essential: “Access to alcohol by children can be limited if pack sizes that can be easily concealed are not available. We must act decisively to protect our youths from the dangers of alcohol abuse.”

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