Omo, dis one no be small matter wey dem just drop, e get as e be!
According to wetin NAFDAC report show, over half of our young pikin dem don learn how to buy alcoholic drinks by demsef – 54.3% of dem no dey waste time o! Dis survey na serious wahala wey dey throw light on underage drinking for our obodo Nigeria.
Di survey wey dem do for six states for Naija, sample over 1,700 people from different geopolitical zones. Na im now we sabi say 54.3% of minors and underaged persons dey buy alcohol by demsef, while 49.9% dey collect am from friends and family. E mean say na so so young pipo dey turn alcohol warriors for Naija.
Di director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, talk say alcohol na one of di most common substance wey dey worry our youths. E dey get serious health wahala as alcohol no be play matter at all!
For dis research, dem divide di respondents into age groups. Dem get minors wey dey below age 13, underaged wey dey between 13-17 years, and di big boys and girls wey don pass 18. Na dem see as minors dey gather alcohol from sachets, PET bottles and even glass. Na wah!
Fixing di numbers, e be like say 49.9% of minors go buy from retailers wey dey sell sachet pack drinks. E get some wey dey carry go liquor stores, restaurants and even supermarkets but dem no too plenty.
For consumption levels, you no go believe am: 54% of di people wey respond to di survey na occasional drinkers, while 24% just dey groove with alcohol daily. E get plenty underaged wey dey drink small small, e fit shock you! Especailly as 9.3% minors also dey chop alcohol daily.
D topic come turn even juicier when dem talk about di solution. Di survey suggest say if dem fit ban small pack sizes wey children fit conceal like sachets and bottles wey dey below 200 milliliters, e go help reduce dis koko wey dey happen.
All di adults for area, be parents, teachers, community leaders and religious heads, no suppose close eye for dis matter o! E no be play matter. We need to alert dem on how we fit tackle dis alcohol wahala wey dey show face among our pikin dem.
Naija parents, make una shine una eye o! Na serious public health koko wey dey occur we no fit ignore. E be like say we go gather ourselves, hol’ hands, and do wetin we fit make sure say our youths no dey fall victim for dis underage drinking wahala.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor @ nnn.ng
