Health agency raises alert on fake alcohol circulation

ayodele johnson

August 23, 2016 6:29 PM

The high rate of alcohol consumption is reportedly the reason for low productivity among Nigerian youths.

Alcohol consumption.

According to a recent announcement made by the National Agency for Food and Drug Control (NAFDAC), there is now a surge in the circulation of fake alcoholic drinks.

This was revealed by its director for Special Duties, Dr Abubakar Jimoh, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, August 23, 2016.

In the interview, Jimoh disclosed that the consumption of harmful alcoholic substances by the youths in the society has had an exponential effect on the increase on crime rates, as such drinks spur them to misbehave.

“Drinking alcohol is bad enough and people are always advised to take it in moderation; so, the danger associated with taking a fake drink can only be imagined,”

“We have found that the youths rely on such drinks to gather enough courage to commit all manners of atrocities like armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, killing and the rest."

To combat this, Jimoh explained that NAFDAC has increased its efforts in stopping activities that promotes drunkenness through raids and bylaws.

Focus has been in areas such as Edo and Delta States, which produce drinks that are known to harm vital organs of the body.

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“We have, therefore, continued to intensify our campaigns and that has resulted into some states coming up with bylaws that banned some alcoholic beverages."

“We have also raided production and drinking points of some of these dangerous drinks, especially in Edo and Delta States, because the drinks have damaged many livers, kidneys and other vital organs of the body."

Speaking further on the menace of alcohol, the special duties director also commented that regular consumption has rendered many youths unproductive.

Agriculture is an area of economic growth that requires energy and youthfulness, but the circulation of harmful drinks have robbed the sector of the needed manpower.

“They have also led to the gradual decline in the health status of many youths and totally destroyed their capacity to contribute to societal development,”

“Farming requires a lot of energy– which is the asset of youths. The drinks destroy that energy, hence the need to rid society of them", he said.

ayodele johnson