Alcohol is a universal drink, but the rate ofconsumption in Africa is particularly high. However, not all African countries are to blame for this outrageous alcohol consumption. There are those I like to refer to as “the boss of the drunkards”. The surprising aspect of this is that the countries you think will top this list are hard to find here according to the latest records. Based on the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, the following African countries reported the highest annual alcohol consumption on the continent, measured by the amount of pure ethyl alcohol consumed per capita per year among people aged 15 and over.
10. Tanzania – 7.7 liters per capita per year
It is not known that Tanzania is a rich country, with almost half of the population living under one dollar a day. This may be why they resort to locally made alcohol which is cheaper and naturally more concentrated. Therefore, only 0.2% comes from wine, 11% from beer, 1.8% from spirits, and a whopping 87% from other species not counted. It has been found that more than 25% of men consume alcohol in excess, while almost 15% of women do so in Tanzania. Excessive alcohol consumption and abuse continues to rise in the country, so the government is working seriously to provide for the treatment of diseases or disorders arising from excessive alcohol consumption and excessive alcohol dependence.
9. Botswana – 7.96 liters per capita per year
Diamond-rich Botswana also consumes alcohol heavily, with 42% coming from categories not accounted for, 57% going to beer, possibly due to high consumption of Botswana’s national beer, St Louis. Although many (locals and visitors) say that St. Louis is inferior to the cheapest light beers found anywhere else in the world. In its place, many go for beer imports from nearby South Africa or Namibia.
8. Gabon – 9.32 liters per capita per year
The preferred type of alcoholic beverage for Gabonese is clear. While in Gabon 10% and 22% of alcohol consumption comes from wine and spirits respectively, 68% comes from beer. Gabon is a dream nation for any alcohol lover, as it has the cheapest alcoholic beverages in Africa, second only to the Russian Federation in the world. This is mainly because the import of alcohol is tax-free in the country. Gabon’s regab is also the cheapest alcohol in the country, which could cost as little as $0.7.
7. South Africa – 9.46 liters per capita per year
South Africa is a country with a rich economy. So it’s not surprising that 56% of their alcohol consumption comes from legally brewed beer, while 17%, 16% and 11% comes from wine, spirits and “other varieties”. South Africa is one of the African countries where alcohol is most enjoyed. This is particularly noticeable in the numerous beer halls and bars that characterize the country’s roads and paths. Alcohol can be easily purchased from bottle shops, supermarkets, bars and shebeens, and other unlicensed liquor stores where licenses are more common, particularly in disadvantaged communities. It is also well advertised in ceremonies and social gatherings.
6. Burundi – 9.47 liters per capita per year
Just 0.1% above South Africa, Burundi is another country that doesn’t bother with wines and spirits, as these don’t even make up a percentage of their alcohol consumption. Locally produced alcohol took up a large share of 81%, while beer occupied the remaining 19%. Their favorite alcoholic drink is the one they call “Urwarwa”, which means banana wine. It has been discovered that 24% of Burundian youth are drinking alcohol regularly before the age of 13.
5. Namibia – 9.62 liters per capita per year
Namibia is very diverse in its selection of types of alcohol, just like South Africa. However, beer still has the highest weight at 67% of alcohol consumption. Spirits make up 20%, wine 7% and “other categories” 6%. Namibia ranks fifth in the list of most alcohol-dependent countries in Africa and is known for high rates of alcohol consumption of all types.
4. Kenya – 9.72 liters per capita per year
Alcohol is so valued in Kenya that women are not left out in the enjoyment. Unlike in most African countries, where men dominate alcohol consumption, Kenyan women also drink as much alcohol as men. Some of the most popular beer brands in Kenya are Tusker Lager, Tusker Premium Lager. There are other brands of alcohol in Kenya and the consumption of wine is also widespread, but only among the elite and wealthy.
3. Rwanda – 9.8 liters per capita per year
A percentage of up to 92% of their total alcohol consumption goes to alcohol types such as banana beer, urgwagwa and fermented honey drink, ubuki, ikigage made from dry sorghum, etc. Only a meager 8% goes to beer. Alcohol consumption is practically a way of life in Rwanda. It is easily available at cheap prices, especially the locally made ones.
2. Uganda – 11.93 liters per capita per year
Uganda is home to locally produced alcohol. The famous Ugandan waragi, which contains around 42% alcohol, is one of the most alcoholic spirits in the world. However, this can cover a variety of drinks: pombe and lubisi or locally made banana or millet beer, tonto, a traditionally fermented drink made from bananas, banana wine and more. The ingestion of large quantities of strong gins and other forms of raw alcohol in mostly poor rural communities and urban slums has raised health alarms, with the youth affected falling in productivity. Uganda’s gifted also mostly drink beer in liberal quantities, which police recently put under surveillance to catch drunk drivers and pedestrians in the country.
1. Nigeria – 12.28 liters per capita per year
Nigeria, popularly known as the giant of Africa, the “giant of alcoholism” also appeared in Africa! Nigeria is richly blessed with the natural alcohol known as palm wine, derived from raffia palms. Consumption of domestically produced alcohol accounts for 84% of his total alcohol consumption. In Nigeria even children take this local palm wine. It is primarily enjoyed in the numerous bush bars across the country, as well as at traditional ceremonies. Many Nigerian families in the villages have it in their hands and call for each family to produce for their own consumption, even if they include it on the family menu. All of this, in addition to its massive population, is precisely why Nigeria has risen to become the No. 1 alcohol consumption nation on the entire African continent.
Before we end this story, we would like to emphasize that excessive alcohol consumption is very harmful to health. Keep those bottles down and you’ll be around a lot longer.