Alcohol Consumption Per Geo Political Zone.
South South (Niger Delta) N74.4 billion √
South East N44 billion
South West N37 billion
North-Central N30 billion
North-East N19.6 billion
North West N2.6 billion
Rural dwellers consume more alcohol than urban dwellers.
States that drink the most beer in Nigeria are in the Nigeria Delta
The highest alcohol consuming state in Nigeria falls in the South-South zone
NBS gives statistics of beer consumption by states in nigeria
Source: NBS
Alcohol consumption is a billion naira business in Nigeria with consumers spending just less than a quarter of a trillion naira in 2016. According to the latest data from the nation’s statistics bureau, in 2016 alone, Nigerians spent at least N208 billion on alcohol – this amount was more than the budget of Zamfara State for that year.
What health experts say about alcohol consumption
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), one of every 10 cancer cases in Nigeria can be traced to alcohol, and 4.7 per cent of overall cancer cases in Nigeria last year can be attributed to liquor.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said in 2014, Nigeria consumed an average of 23.1 litres of pure alcohol annually, while 50.1g of pure alcohol is consumed daily by drinkers aged 15 years and above.
On effect of alcohol in Nigerians; Tavershima Adongo, a medical consultant with the medical journalism programme at the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism, explained that “Alcoholism is the chronic condition that develops from uncontrolled drinking and preoccupation with alcohol, leading to a physical and emotional dependence.” He added that “this condition affects about 1.5 million Nigerians yearly, often progressing from a state of alcohol abuse were individuals consume alcohol in sufficient quantities that can be in infrequent periods as once a week.”
Mr Adongo remarks that “immediate short term effects can include systemic effects such as nausea and vomiting, behavioural and mood affectation such as aggression, self destructive tendencies, hyperactivity and anxiety, to long term disease and personality changes that lead to disorganization with an overall effect on individual performance and interpersonal relationships.
“Dependence can occur as early as late teenage years -18, through mid adult life to old age >60 years. Studies have shown equal prevalence of consumption among this age range, indicating an early onset age of consumption in the country.
“Alcoholic liver cirrhosis, a disease that results from destruction of the liver cells, resulting from alcohol consumption by itself is reported to progressively lead to death, asides progressing to liver cancer.
“Other conditions such as acute pancreatitis with long term effects of pancreatic cancer have a higher tendency with increased intake.
“Drinking can be reduced with preventive strategies of regulation, and rehabilitation of victims which would involve the setting up of treatment centres in rehabilitative facilities. Discontinuing individuals from alcohol involves a programme of medical detoxification -which entails a gradual withdrawal process, as sudden lack of alcohol in the body can also cause mental confusion and emotional disruption and life threatening seizures.
“There exists no regulatory control on alcohol use presently in the country. The Ministry of health and the NAFDAC do not have any regulatory policy on alcohol. In the Northern part of the country Islamic sharia law prohibits consumption through forceful arrests of individuals, and confiscation of products. An expanded policy would be needed if consumption is to be regulated with an impact on health and the market,” Mr Adongo stated.
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