A recent survey by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), in collaboration with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), has revealed that one in four underaged Nigerians consumes alcohol daily, highlighting a growing public health crisis.
The study found that 25.2 percent of minors aged 13 to 17 drink alcohol every day, while 9.3 percent of children under 13 also reported daily consumption. According to NAFDAC, easy access to alcoholic beverages—both through retail outlets and social environments—is driving the trend.
The survey, conducted between June and August 2021 across six states representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, involved 1,788 quantitative respondents and qualitative interviews with minors, underaged persons, and alcohol retailers.
Key findings include:
Easy retail access: 54.3 percent of minors reported buying alcohol themselves, often without challenge from shopkeepers. Many purchased sachets or small PET bottles, which are easier to conceal and consume.
Social and household access: 49.9 percent obtained alcohol from friends or relatives, 45.9 percent at social gatherings, and 21.7 percent from parents’ homes.
Hotspot states: Lagos, Rivers, and Kaduna recorded the highest rates of sachet and PET-bottle alcohol consumption.
NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, expressed concern, warning that early exposure to alcohol increases the risk of long-term abuse, mental health complications, and academic underperformance. She described underage drinking as “no longer an isolated behaviour but a widespread trend.”
The agency recommended urgent regulatory interventions, including banning sachet alcohol and bottles smaller than 200 millilitres to reduce minors’ access. Adeyeye stressed that safeguarding children’s health requires decisive action from parents, educators, religious leaders, and the community.
“This high rate of daily alcohol consumption signals a shift from experimentation to habitual use, demanding immediate attention from all stakeholders,” she said.
NAFDAC stated that the findings provide critical evidence to guide policy, enforcement, and public awareness campaigns aimed at curbing underage drinking in Nigeria.