To improve road safety and promote responsible attitude towards the consumption of alcohol in the country, alcoholic beverage producing companies in Nigeria have flagged off a campaign aimed at enlightening road users on the need to abhor drunk-driving.
The association, which spoke on the platform of Beer Sectoral Group (BSG) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) said the campaign focuses on sensitising drivers on the need to abstain from drinking while behind the wheels.
At a media briefing to flag off the campaign with the theme, “Drive Alcohol-Free Campaign” on Monday in Lagos, the Corporate  Relations Director/Company Secretary, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, who spoke on behalf of the group said the campaign aims to reduce road accidents associated with drunk-driving.
He said one of the objectives of the group was the promotion of a healthy and respected alcoholic beverage industry in Nigeria and fostering of a responsible alcohol consumption culture.
He said, “although drunk-driving is still relatively low in Nigeria as there is paucity of data linking road crashes to it, the behaviour has been found to be a major challenge in many parts of the world.”
Sobowale stated that the objectives of the Drive Alcohol-Free campaign include awareness of the dangers of drunk-driving; motivate a change in behaviour among drivers and reduce alcohol-related harm.
He listed others as educating drivers that they cannot use their own “rules of thumb” to determine what is safe and finally to demonstrate BSG’s unwavering commitment to the well-being of its consumers and the society at large.
“We believe that safety on the roads should be everyone’s concern and as manufactures of products that consumers like to use as part of their daily lifestyle, we want to see a more positive behaviour to alcohol consumption particularly by road users, including commercial drivers.
It is out of this concern for safety on the road that BSG has come up with the Drive Alcohol-Free campaign, which we are launching. This campaign compliments the various initiatives being carried out by individual members of the BSG in this area.”
Corps Commander, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State, Hyginus Omeje, who also spoke at the event thanked the group for coming up with the initiative.
He further stated that more could be achieved via the campaign if the message is adequately conveyed to the intended target, particularly those at the grassroots. He added that more awareness materials like handbills, stickers and other campaign souvenirs should be available to the agency and other stakeholders to help drive the awareness campaign.

Beverage coys mobilise against drunk-driving