Structural and Regulatory Deficits in Alcohol Control Policy: A Critical Evaluation of Advertising Governance and Treatment Systems in Nigeria’s Draft NNAP 2025

Nigeria ranks among countries with the highest alcohol consumption rates among individuals aged 15 and above, posing adverse public health risks. On one hand, excessive advertising, and aggressive marketing strategies has significantly contributed to the availability of alcohol, while weak access regulations contribute to high level of dependency, harmful use and severe withdrawal symptoms caused by alcohol use disorders (AUDs). The Draft 'Nigeria National Alcohol Policy' (NNAP), 2025 is expected to establish clear processes, structures, and frameworks that regulates alcohol availability including production, distribution, marketing, strengthen treatment services and rehabilitation, promote drinking and driving enforcement, and emergency medical care.

While the stand of the NNAP in regulating the consumption, distribution, production and marketing of alcohol in Nigeria aimed at reducing the health, social, and economical harms in the society is clear, critical gaps remain. This is attributed to its inability to adequately provide guardrails for addressing aggressive marketing by the alcohol industry and the insufficient provision for AUD treatment and rehabilitation systems, albeit designed to balance the commercial interests of the alcohol industry. This paper examines these oversights and their implications for public health protection in Nigeria and the level of social work interventions in handling consequences of these behavioural outcomes.

Keywords: Alcohol Advertising & Marketing, AUD, Treatment, Draft Alcohol Policies in Nigeria