A Consultant Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Dr Sunday Amosu, has warned that using alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress, frustration, or emotional distress often worsens underlying problems and pushes individuals toward addiction.
PUNCH Healthwise reports that Nigerians’ cumulative spending on beer translated into the ₦ 1.54 trillion revenue reported by brewing companies in the first nine months of 2025.
An analysis by The PUNCH shows that Nigerian Breweries Plc, International Breweries Plc, and Champion Breweries Plc generated a combined revenue of over ₦ 1.54 trillion from the sale of beer and other non-alcoholic drinks in the first nine months of 2025.
The figure underscores the scale of beer and other alcohol beverage consumption among Nigerians despite prevailing economic pressures.
Speaking with beer consumers across different socio-economic backgrounds, they told our correspondent that they turn to beer as a way of easing frustration and coping with stress brought on by harsh living conditions in the country.
Speaking exclusively to PUNCH Healthwise on the rising tendency to justify alcohol consumption as a form of relief, Amosu said such behaviour frequently masks alcohol dependence.
According to him, the journey into addiction often begins subtly, progressing from experimentation to regular use and, eventually, to harmful consumption and dependence.
The psychiatrist explained that by the time individuals begin to offer excuses for their drinking habits, addiction has often already taken hold, making recovery difficult.
“The idea of using alcohol as a coping mechanism is often an excuse masking addiction. Many people start with experimentation, move to regular use, then to harmful use, and finally to dependence or addiction. By the time excuses are given, addiction has already set in,” Amosu said.
He warned that alcohol dependence carries long-term consequences that many individuals underestimate in the early stages.
“This is why alcohol dependence is a dangerous path. Once someone enters it, there is no guarantee of return. It is a journey of no return for many people,” he stated.
Amosu noted that rather than solving problems, alcohol use compounds them, urging individuals facing emotional or psychological challenges to seek appropriate medical help.
“Ultimately, alcohol does not pay off. It creates more problems than it solves. Instead of turning to alcohol, people should seek healthier solutions. If someone has sleep problems, they should see a doctor. If they are struggling with depression, they should seek medical care, receive counselling, and use prescribed antidepressants where necessary,” he advised.
The psychiatrist further highlighted the devastating impact of alcohol dependence on family life, describing it as one of the earliest casualties of addiction.
“Family life is deeply affected. Many people with alcohol dependence are unable to care for their families. Marriages often break down, spouses are left to shoulder responsibilities alone, and sometimes grandparents step in to care for children because the affected individual has become irresponsible. Job loss is common, and productivity declines sharply,” he said.
According to him, the ripple effects of dependence extend into the workplace, where affected individuals struggle to meet professional expectations.
“At the workplace, such individuals struggle to function effectively. They face repeated queries, warnings, and disciplinary actions. Frequent hospital visits further reduce productivity. They are no longer contributing meaningfully to the economy or to their organisations,” Amosu noted.
He added that strained family relationships often deepen as basic responsibilities are neglected and emotional bonds deteriorate.
“Within the family, relationships suffer. The spouse is unhappy, children are unhappy, school fees go unpaid, and basic responsibilities are neglected. Religious, social, and community roles are abandoned. Alcohol dependence gradually strips individuals of their ability to function across all areas of life,” he explained.
Amosu also pointed to the effect of alcohol dependence on intimate relationships, noting that emotional and physical neglect often follow.
“Sexual relationships are also affected. In some cases, the pleasure derived from alcohol becomes greater than interest in intimacy, leading to neglect of partners. Children continue to suffer in such households, emotionally and materially,” he said.
The psychiatrist emphasised that professional help and medical interventions are available for individuals struggling with stress, depression, or addiction.
He stressed that choosing alcohol as a coping mechanism only leads to cumulative losses, stressing that healthier alternatives remain the safer and more sustainable path.
“There are medical solutions, professional support, and safer coping strategies available. Putting oneself on a path of alcohol dependence only leads to loss of health, family, dignity, and life,” Amosu added.
Also, a Public Health Physician, Prof. Adebayo Onajole, said prolonged alcohol exposure can lead to liver damage and other chronic complications.
“Prolonged alcohol exposure can lead to liver damage, including liver cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis occurs when repeated injury to liver cells causes them to be replaced with fibrous tissue. This scarring affects the structure of the liver, just as scarring affects the skin.
“The liver performs numerous vital functions in the body, and when it is damaged, many of these functions are impaired. This not only affects the individual but also the family, because illness reduces the ability to contribute financially and meet household responsibilities,” he told PUNCH Healthwise.
According to him, alcohol consumption also affects food intake and nutrient absorption, which can result in malnutrition.
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