A viral video depicting minors as young as seven consuming alcoholic beverages has sparked concern and condemnation from Cameroon’s largest brewery company, Société Anonyme des Biossons du Cameroun (SABC).
While the exact location where the video was shot remains unknown, the alcoholic beverages being consumed by the minors are regular Cameroonian drinks, some of them from SABC.
In an official release signed by its Media and Digital Manager, Brice Monthe, the company distanced itself from the unethical act, emphasising the abusive use of alcohol.
The video, which MMI first spotted on December 27, showcases 11 children, some appearing as young as seven, drinking bottles of alcoholic beer.
In the background, a voice can be heard coaching and applauding the minors for their actions, raising alarms about the exposure of children to alcohol at such a young age.
SABC, in its statement, expressed deep concern over the abusive use of its products, denouncing any responsibility for the damages resulting from irresponsible consumption.
The company urged drinking establishments, parents, and guardians to exercise responsibility and vigilance to curb such deviant behaviour.
While Cameroonian authorities have not officially responded to the video, Biosson du Cameroon condemned “any abusive use of its products and declines all responsibility for damage caused by irresponsible use or consumption of them.”
The company further “called on the responsibility and vigilance of the owners of drinking establishments, parents and guardians of minors in order to put an end to such deviance…”
In Cameroon, there are legal provisions against providing or selling alcohol to individuals below the age of 18.
Those found guilty of this offense risk fines ranging from FCFA 5,000 to FCFA 50,000.
Double offenders, as per the country’s Penal Code Section 348(2), could face imprisonment for up to a month and a fine of up to FCFA 100,000.
However, the enforcement of these laws appears inconsistent, with reports of parents remotely sending underage children to purchase alcohol.
The recent video depicts Cameroon’s prevalent drinking culture, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) reporting that 23% of its adult population consumes approximately 22.6 liters of pure alcohol per year, equivalent to four to five standard drinks per day.
This is much higher than the WHO average of 18.4 litres per year.
Furthermore, WHO’s 2016 survey ranked Cameroon as the largest alcohol consumer in Central and West Africa and 12th out of 49 African countries.
The recent video continues to spark outrage and calls for legal action against those responsible for providing alcohol to minors.
