School and Home Influence on Alcohol Consumption Among School Children in Nigeria

The purpose of the study is to ascertain if school variable (peer group pressure) and home variables (family history of alcohol consumption, socio-economic status of the family, attitude of parent towards alcohol drinking and cultural norms/festivity) lead to alcohol consumption among adolescents and proffer solution to the social menace of alcohol consumption among secondary school children. The study was a descriptive research design with mixed methods of data collection involving questionnaire and interview schedule. A sample of 100 students out of a population of 130 students and 180 students each of the mid-class (SS 2 and JS 2) of the senior and basic secondary schools respectively were involved in the study. Four hypotheses were posited and tested using Chi-square and statistical decisions made. The instruments for the study were questionnaire and interview schedule with a reliability coefficient of 0.78 using Pearson Moment Correlation Coefficient. It was found that parents are the major source of alcohol supply for many young Nigerians and children are often first introduced to alcohol in the family - home. Parents who drink alcohol are more likely to exhibit permissiveness towards alcohol use in their adolescent children. Based on the findings from this study, it could be concluded that children aged 10-16 years in Yenagoa metropolis of Nigeria, indulged in alcohol consumption regularly and in high quantity which is not good for their health. It is necessary that parents should present themselves as suitable role models in – order to guide their children against anti-social behaviours.