More than half of Nigerian minors and underaged children are able to purchase alcohol on their own, according to a national survey conducted in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The survey, carried out between June and August 2021, found that 54.3 percent of minors and underaged respondents obtained alcohol directly from retail outlets, raising serious concerns about enforcement of existing alcohol control laws in Nigeria.
The study was sponsored by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) and conducted by Research and Data Solutions Ltd, Abuja, covering six states across the country’s six geo-political zones: Gombe, Kaduna, the Federal Capital Territory, Anambra, Lagos, and Rivers.
Easy Access Through Shops, Friends, and Social Events
Findings show that access to alcohol among children is widespread and multi-channel.
Nearly half of respondents (49.9 percent) reported getting alcohol from friends or relatives, while 45.9 percent accessed it at social gatherings. Alarmingly, 21.7 percent said alcohol was available in their parents’ homes.
Retail outlets selling alcohol in sachets and small plastic bottles (PET) were the most common sources, accounting for almost half of purchases by minors.
Smaller numbers also obtained alcohol from liquor stores, restaurants, and supermarkets.
The study noted that sachet alcohol and small PET bottles were especially popular among underaged drinkers because they are cheaper, easier to conceal, and widely available.
States with the highest reported procurement of these products included Rivers, Lagos, and Kaduna.
Drinking Starts Early—and Continues Often
While most minors and underaged children described themselves as occasional drinkers, the frequency data revealed a worrying trend.
About 9.3 percent of minors and 25.2 percent of underaged respondents reported drinking alcohol daily. Others consumed alcohol weekly.
Researchers warned that early exposure to alcohol increases the risk of long-term abuse, health complications, and risky behavior later in life.
Calls for Stronger Controls
In its conclusions, the survey emphasized that restricting small alcohol pack sizes, particularly sachets and bottles under 200 millilitres, could significantly reduce underage drinking.
It also urged parents, schools, religious institutions, and communities to take greater responsibility in monitoring children’s exposure to alcohol.
NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, said the findings should serve as a wake-up call for regulators and families alike, stressing that underage drinking is not just a legal issue but a growing public health concern.