More than half of Nigerian minors buy alcohol freely — Survey

A new national survey has revealed that more than half of Nigerian minors now buy alcohol on their own, often in sachets and small plastic bottles, even as one in four underage youths drink alcohol daily.

The survey, conducted across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, found that 54.3 per cent of minors and underaged persons obtained alcohol by themselves, mostly from roadside retailers and informal outlets.

Cheap, easily concealed sachet packs and small PET bottles were identified as the most commonly purchased forms.

The study was supported by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and carried out by Research and Data Solutions Ltd, Abuja, between June and August 2021.

Presenting the findings, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, described the results as a wake-up call for regulators, parents and communities.

“Alcohol is one of the most widely abused substances among young people in Nigeria, and the ease with which children can access it is deeply disturbing,” Adeyeye said.

“When minors can independently purchase alcohol, particularly in sachets and small bottles, it exposes them to serious health, social and developmental risks.”

Beyond direct purchases, the survey showed that 49.9 per cent of minors and underaged respondents accessed alcohol through friends and relatives, while 45.9 per cent obtained alcohol at social gatherings and 21.7 per cent from parents’ homes, underscoring the role of social and household environments in underage drinking.

Consumption patterns were equally troubling. While most minors and underaged respondents reported drinking occasionally, 9.3 per cent of minors and 25.2 per cent of underaged youths admitted to daily alcohol consumption—a level experts warn could lead to addiction, risky behaviour and long-term health consequences.

The nationwide survey involved 1,788 respondents in Gombe, Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory, Anambra, Lagos and Rivers states. It also included focus group discussions with minors and underage youths, as well as interviews with alcohol retailers.

According to Prof. Adeyeye, the findings reinforce the need for stricter control of alcohol packaging and retail practices.

“Evidence from this survey shows that access to alcohol by children can be significantly reduced if small, easily concealed pack sizes are removed from the market,” she said. “The ban on sachet alcohol and very small bottles is a critical intervention in curbing underage drinking.”

NAFDAC warned that regulation alone would not solve the problem, calling for broader social responsibility.

“Alcohol consumption by children should raise alarm for parents, teachers, religious leaders and the wider community,” Adeyeye said. “Protecting our children requires collective action to safeguard their health and the future of the nation.”

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing alcohol control measures as part of its mandate to protect public health, stressing that preventing underage drinking remains a national priority.

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