Underage alcohol consumption in Ghana: A threat to child welfare and development

Abstract This study examined information regarding prevalence of children ever drinking alcohol, ever been drank, number of times they have taken alcohol, who first introduced them to it, and what they perceived as the effects of alcohol on children. A cross-sectional convergent parallel mixed method was used to study 5024 children aged 8 to 17 in Ghana. This study found that alcohol consumption was less prevalent among the children, but in terms of age higher in older adolescents, and regarding sex prevalent in males than females. More than six in ten have ever been drunk after consuming alcohol, and more than half the children who reported ever taking alcohol were first initiated into consumption by friends. The results show that despite the existence of law, policy, and national institutional mechanisms in place, efforts made to regulate sale and consumption of alcohol among children has been a challenge. Children in certain parts of the country still buy and consume alcohol freely without restrictions. Based on this, national institutions in charge of child protection are enjoined to enhance their monitoring, investigative, arrest and awareness raising operations to dissuade and restrict minors from alcohol sale and consumption.