NEWS
Alarming NAFDAC Survey Exposes Widespread Underage Access to Alcohol in Nigeria as Over 54% of Minors Buy Drinks Themselves, Triggering Renewed Calls for Urgent Policy Reforms and Parental Vigilance
More than half of minors and underaged persons in Nigeria personally purchase alcoholic beverages, a disturbing national survey conducted by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has revealed, underscoring the depth of underage drinking and the ease with which children and adolescents access alcohol across the country.
The study disclosed that 54.3 per cent of persons under 18 years buy alcoholic beverages themselves from various sources, raising fresh concerns among health experts, regulators and child-rights advocates about the growing culture of alcohol consumption among Nigeria’s youth.
The survey, titled Underage Drinking and Abuse of Alcohol: Access to Alcohol and Frequency of Consumption, was released on Tuesday by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, as part of the agency’s broader efforts to address substance abuse and strengthen regulatory controls in the country.
According to the findings, alcohol remains “one of the most widely used substances of abuse among youths” and a “growing public health concern in Nigeria,” highlighting an escalating crisis that threatens the physical, mental and social well-being of young Nigerians.
The research examined the extent of alcohol abuse among underaged persons through a comprehensive national survey involving both consumers and retailers of alcoholic beverages and wines. A total of 1,788 respondents were sampled across six states representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones: Gombe (North East), Kaduna (North West), the Federal Capital Territory (North Central), Anambra (South East), Lagos (South West) and Rivers (South South).
Respondents were grouped into three age categories: minors (below 13 years), underaged persons (13–17 years), and adults (18 years and above), allowing the researchers to compare patterns of access and consumption across age groups.
Results showed that minors and underaged persons obtain alcohol through multiple channels, pointing to a weak enforcement environment and widespread social tolerance.
“While 54.3 per cent procure it themselves, 49.9 per cent obtain it from friends and relatives, and 45.9 per cent from social gatherings,” the survey stated.
Further analysis revealed that among those who purchased alcohol personally, nearly half patronised informal retail outlets. About 49.9 per cent bought drinks from retailers selling sachet packs and PET bottles. Others sourced alcohol from liquor stores (15.4 per cent), restaurants (12.6 per cent) and supermarkets (7.9 per cent), indicating that both formal and informal sales channels are contributing to underage access.
The study also shed light on the types of packaging preferred by young drinkers, a factor regulators say plays a critical role in accessibility and concealment.
“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.
“About 27.6 per cent of the underaged procured alcohol in glass bottles,” it added.
Beyond access, the survey painted a troubling picture of consumption habits among young people. Overall, 54.0 per cent of respondents were classified as occasional drinkers, 24.0 per cent consumed alcohol daily, while 11.0 per cent drank alcohol at least once a week.
Among minors and underaged persons, occasional drinking was most common, with 63.2 per cent of minors and 54.0 per cent of the underaged falling into this category. However, the presence of daily drinkers among children raised particular alarm, as 9.3 per cent of minors and 25.2 per cent of underaged persons reported consuming alcohol every day. Weekly consumption was recorded among 11.3 per cent of minors and 9.4 per cent of the underaged.
The report emphasised strong policy implications, stressing that “access to alcohol by children can be limited if pack sizes that can be easily concealed are not available.”
Consequently, the study recommended the banning of small pack sizes, such as sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres, as a practical step toward curbing underage drinking.
In addition to regulatory actions, NAFDAC called for heightened vigilance and collective responsibility, urging parents, teachers, religious leaders and community stakeholders to take a more proactive role in addressing alcohol consumption among children and adolescents.
The agency stressed that underage drinking should no longer be treated as a minor social issue but recognised as a serious public health concern requiring urgent and sustained intervention at family, community and national levels.