A review of alcoholic bitters proliferation in Nigeria: A friendly multifaceted killer looming across the nation

Abstract

Proliferation of alcoholic bitters and its increasing consumption is viewed to be a major public health concern in Nigeria. Many of these drinks are illicitly distilled in obscure locations and some manufacturers claim the bitter ingredient is a secret recipe. Due to consumers' belief about its therapeutic effects, there is tendency towards excessive consumption and resultant increase in health risk. In some cases, it leads to unprotected sex among youths thereby increasing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The continuous and unguided consumption of this friendly and subtle killer thus contributes to increase in the mortality and morbidity rate, homelessness and joblessness among many in Nigeria, and therefore cognate efforts by government and communities must be put in place to ensure reduction of this menace. Furthermore, ease of access to these alcoholic bitters is what Nigeria policies and lawmakers should take as a priority and urgently address before it ruins the entire well being of the populace
and economy at large.

Keywords: Alcohol-abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Illicit drug, Phytochemicals, Therapeutics