Perceived impact of packaging on alcohol consumption: A case of the University of Nairobi students

Abstract

This study sought to find out what, if any, impact packaging has on consumption of alcohol amongst university students. The study used survey research design. Questionnaires were distributed to all the fourteen faculties of the University of Nairobi, and sought to gain insights from an equal number of females and males. The questionnaire was divided into four sections, namely demographics, consumption of alcohol, effects of alcohol consumption and packaging preferences. These responses were the foundation for drawing the following conclusions. A large number of students were prone to buying and consuming sachets of alcohol before they were banned by the government. This was due to the affordability and portability attributed to sachets and other small packages in general. This led to an increase in alcohol consumption amongst the students as they could easily purchase, hide the sachets and drink them either in class or in many other unexpected places at any time. The report recommended continued fight against the consumption of alcohol amongst students. The banning of the small sachets has been successful, but peer pressure amongst the first and second year students are a cause for concern. The study was limited in that it had a lot of respondents being first and second year students. It would have been great to get more responses from third, fourth and fifth year students who are more mature and are already used to campus life. The study recommends for future research, the impact of packaging on alcohol consumption amongst the mature working class population.