The Beer Sector Group (BSG) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has said it is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Education to check drinking among the underage population.
It also said the BSG had inaugurated the fourth edition of its SMASHED project in Abuja for the purpose of maintaining the SMASHED project was aimed at breaking the culture of underage drinking and reducing alcohol-related cases among school children.
Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc and Chairman of the group, Baker Magunda, who stated this at a media briefing in Abuja recently, said the BSG comprised leading beer manufacturers in Nigeria, including the Nigeria Breweries Plc, Guinness Nigeria Plc and International Breweries Plc, among others.
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He said the project had been launched in 25 countries and the initiative was focused on helping teenagers to build confidence in the face of peer pressure of taking alcoholic beverages, adding: “SMASHED global project started in 2005 and the idea behind it is to use drama and theatre to help adolescents to understand the dangers of alcohol consumption to their health.
“The outcome of the project is intended to empower young people to make the right choices and not be put under pressure to drink alcohol before they are adults. We have, therefore, reached over one million adolescents globally and the project has been launched in 25 countries across the world.”