A new National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control survey shows Rivers and Lagos lead Nigeria in minors buying alcohol in sachets and small bottles.
NAFDAC said the nationwide study found “54.3 per cent of minors and underage respondents obtained alcohol by themselves,” and “nearly half (49.9 per cent) purchased drinks in sachets or PET bottles.”
Rivers recorded the highest sachet use at 68.0 per cent and PET use at 64.5 per cent; Lagos followed with 52.3 per cent and 47.7 per cent respectively.
The report warned about drinking frequency: 63.2 per cent of minors were occasional drinkers, while 9.3 per cent of minors and 25.2 per cent of underaged respondents said they drank daily.
NAFDAC director-general Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said alcohol is “one of the most widely used substances of abuse among youths.”
NAFDAC argues small pack sizes make alcohol cheap, easy to hide and easy for children to carry.
“A ban on small pack sizes, including sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres, can reduce the menace of underage drinking,” the agency said.
The DG added: “This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth.”
The agency has resumed enforcing the ban on sachet and very small bottles and is working with the Federal Ministry of Health and consumer bodies on a market-clean up campaign to remove offending products.
Industry groups warn the move could cost jobs, but health officials say protecting children must come first.
