Alcohol-related health and social problems have become an increasing cause for concern in many African countries. Data drawn from a variety of official international statistical reports and trade publications show that the growth in the consumption of alcohol in some African countries has been much more rapid than in most other countries of the world.Statistics which cover the period 1960-1980 show that the world commercial production of beer more than doubled. Since most beer is consumed in the year that it is produced and in the country where it is produced, trends in production are reliable indicators of national
consumption.While in 1981, consumption had increased in many countries, seven African countries Cameroon, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Kenya, Namibia and South some cases, the spectacular growth in beer production and consumption had occurred in low-income countries where growth in other sectors of economic development had not matched that in the beer industry.
     The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that this phenomenon is likely to generate particularly severe public health problems in those countries. According to a report released by this world body, “the rapid growth of alcohol consumption in developing countries is likely to be followed after a time by an increase in alcohol-related problems that would that would impose a very severe strain on scarce economic and social resources.
     This trend represents a serious threat to the capacity of increasing the number of countries that will respond adequately to the health-for-all challenge”. In 1960, Gabon consumed 12 litres of beer per capita. In 1981, this rose to 135 litres, an increase of 1025% over the 20-years period. The comparative increase in the other African countries with high consumption was 893% for Congo, 723% for South Africa, 562% for Cameroon, 506% for Cote d’Ivoire, and 247% for Kenya.
     In 1960, Africa as a whole produced five million hectoliters of beer. This rose to 43.6 hectolites in 1980, an increase of 772%. The comparative figures of Europe and the US were 86% and 104% respectively.Beer consumption per capita in Africa in 1960 was 1.8 litres per capita. In 1980, it rose to 9.3 litres, an increase of 416.6%.Statistics on the consumption of distilled spirits in Africa of distilled spirits in Africa show that the consumption of non-commercial spirits, both legal and illegal. Similarly, the figures for beer consumption in Africa did not reflect the consumption of non-commercial beer, both legal and illegal.
      But the picture that emerges is clear: there has been a dramatic growth in alcohol consumption in Africa. This is likely, after a period of time, to be reflected in a higher incidence of alcohol-related problems including physical, psychological, and resources of the countries concerned.