NOA, NAFDAC Raise Fresh Alarm Over Surge in Underage Drinkingǰ̣

By Our Reporter
ABUJA (PRECISE POST)   –   The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) have raised serious concerns over the rising rate of alcohol consumption among minors, warning that sachet and small PET bottle packaging is fueling access to alcohol by underage persons across Nigeria.
Speaking at a joint press briefing on Thursday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, described underage drinking as a growing public health crisis, citing findings from a 2021 national survey conducted in collaboration with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN).
According to the survey, which sampled 1,788 respondents across six states representing the country’s geo-political zones, more than half—54.3 percent—of minors and underaged persons purchase alcohol themselves. Nearly half of them obtain alcoholic drinks in sachets and small PET bottles, while others access alcohol through friends, relatives, social gatherings, and even from their parents’ homes.
The findings revealed that sachet and small bottle packaging remains the most preferred option among underage drinkers due to affordability, portability, and ease of concealment. While 54 percent of respondents described themselves as occasional drinkers, 24 percent consume alcohol daily and 11 percent drink at least once a week. Cases of binge drinking were also recorded, with higher prevalence in some states.
Peer pressure was identified as the leading factor driving underage alcohol consumption, followed by parental influence, social media exposure, emotional distress, and the widespread availability of alcohol outlets. Public advertising and weak enforcement of regulations were also cited as contributing factors.
Health experts warn that early alcohol consumption can cause lasting brain damage, impair memory and impulse control, increase the risk of alcohol poisoning, and lead to liver and kidney damage. Studies further indicate that youths who begin drinking before the age of 15 are significantly more likely to develop alcohol dependence later in life.
Beyond health risks, authorities linked underage drinking to rising cases of violence, road accidents, risky sexual behavior, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, poor academic performance, depression, and anxiety among young people.
The agencies referenced recent Senate resolutions urging strict enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in bottles smaller than 200 millilitres. NAFDAC and NOA pledged to intensify nationwide sensitization campaigns, emphasizing that restricting small, easily concealed alcohol pack sizes is critical to curbing underage drinking and safeguarding the nation’s future.