Oluwafunbi Bello 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nearly two in three Nigerian minors consume alcohol occasionally, according to a nationwide survey that is intensifying debate over the regulation of sachet and small-pack alcoholic drinks.
The findings, released on Tuesday by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), show that 63 per cent of minors’ report alcohol consumption, with many able to purchase drinks without restriction.
NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, says the data exposes serious gaps in parental, community and retail controls, particularly around easily concealed packaging.
The 2021 survey, conducted in collaboration with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), finds that more than half of underaged respondents buy alcohol directly from retail outlets. Sachets and small plastic bottles account for a significant share of these purchases.
“The availability of small pack sizes makes alcohol easily accessible to children,” NAFDAC says, warning that such packaging lowers the barriers to underage drinking.
Beyond direct purchases, the survey shows that nearly half of respondents’ access alcohol through friends, relatives and social gatherings, pointing to broader social acceptance of underage drinking.
NAFDAC says the findings strengthen the case for stricter regulation of alcohol packaging and sales, despite opposition from the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, which argues that a sachet alcohol ban could affect jobs and small-scale distributors.
“Alcohol consumption among children should raise alarm for parents, schools and communities,” the agency says, stressing that protecting minors requires shared responsibility and sustained enforcement.
About the Author
Korede Abdullah 
Oluwatobi Adu 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Otamere Gladness