The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has defended the nationwide ban on sachet and small-pack alcoholic beverages, describing it as a critical step toward curbing rising cases of underage drinking in Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that Adeyeye spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at a press conference marking the commencement of enforcement of the directive. She said the exercise would be carried out in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
According to her, restricting the sale of alcohol in sachets and small-volume bottles — which are easily concealed — will significantly reduce children’s access to alcoholic drinks. She noted that alcohol remains one of the most commonly abused substances among young people.
Adeyeye cited studies showing a sharp rise in alcohol production, importation, availability, and consumption across age groups in recent years, adding that easy accessibility has been a major driver of increased intake among minors.
She recalled that in 2021, NAFDAC conducted a nationwide survey in collaboration with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), sampling 1,788 respondents across the six geopolitical zones to assess alcohol abuse among underage consumers and retailers.
Describing the findings as disturbing, she said 54.3 per cent of minors and underage individuals obtained alcohol themselves from various sources, while 49.9 per cent patronised retailers selling sachets and PET bottles.
About 50 per cent of children consume alcohol, she revealed. The data further showed that 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underage individuals who purchased alcohol themselves preferred sachets because they are easy to hide.
She stressed that concealability plays a significant role in youth consumption, noting that “whether you are a good parent or a bad parent, it doesn’t really matter,” because the packaging enables children to hide alcohol easily.
The survey also found that 63.2 per cent of minors and 54 per cent of underage persons drink alcohol occasionally, compared with 44.3 per cent and 38.3 per cent of adults who consume alcohol occasionally and daily, respectively.
Additionally, 9.3 per cent of minors and 25.2 per cent of underage children consume alcoholic beverages regularly, while 11.3 per cent of minors and 9.4 per cent of underage individuals take alcohol at least once a week. The study further revealed that children as young as nine years old consume alcohol.
Adeyeye noted that most minors purchase alcohol themselves, with sachets selling for as little as N50. She warned that while some individuals may profit from the trade, many children are jeopardising their futures, with potential health consequences including liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, and mental instability.
On patterns of abuse, the findings showed that about 11.7 per cent of underage children had engaged in binge drinking, with the highest incidence recorded in Gombe State. Lagos and Rivers states were reported to have the highest levels of overall alcohol consumption.
Adeyeye emphasised that NAFDAC’s enforcement action aligns with its statutory mandate to safeguard public health, particularly the wellbeing of children.
