Every minute, someone dies from alcohol-related causes globally, with the World Health Organization (WHO) identifying alcohol consumption as a major public health threat.
Despite its tax contributions, pressure is mounting for Ghana to pass the long-delayed National Alcohol Policy.
In Ghana, troubling statistics reveal that 9.2% of truck drivers operate above the legal blood alcohol limit, and 1% believe alcohol enhances driving performance.
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) says this confirms that many drivers knowingly violate alcohol laws. In response, the NRSA is pushing for stricter legal limits under the proposed policy.
During a high-level stakeholder’s meeting held on Friday, November 7, 2025, Director for Research, Monitoring, and Evaluation at NRSA, Alexander Ayatah, advocates lowering Ghana’s current Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit from 0.08 to 0.04, aligning with global best practices.
“For now, what we are looking at is the alcohol level that we call it Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) is 0.08 that is being used in Ghana. I’m hoping that of course that number will come down to 0.04,” Ayatah said.
Beyond road safety, the Alcohol Policy Alliance is urging tighter advertising controls. Chairman of GhanAPA, Benjamin Anabila highlighted the unchecked proliferation of bars near schools, despite existing regulations requiring a 200-meter buffer.
“You go into some of our educational institutions in some of the campuses we have bars. Even these our basic schools and the drinking bars are springing up but we believe that once the law is passed and clearly stipulates these boundaries, enforcement will follow,” he said.
The draft alcohol control regulations, introduced in 2017, remain unenacted, pending a Legislative Instrument (LI) to operationalize the policy. If passed, it would regulate alcohol production, sale, advertising, and consumption, aiming to reduce its harmful effects on individuals and society.
Chairman of Parliament’s Health Committee, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane, has pledged swift action: “Once the LI reaches Parliament, we will pass it within a month.”
Alcohol use is linked to cancer, suicide, domestic violence, traffic injuries, and premature death.
WHO data shows 3 million alcohol-related deaths annually, with 13% occurring among people aged 20 to 39.
