24/07/2025
𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟬 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗹 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀—𝗗𝗢𝗦𝗧-𝗙𝗡𝗥𝗜
Two (2) in every 10 (22.6%) adolescents aged 10 to 19 years old are current alcohol drinkers, based on the 2023 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) by the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI).
This marked an increase from the 2021 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS), which reported that 13.2% or 1 in 10 adolescents were alcohol drinkers.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defined current drinkers as the proportion of adults who have consumed any alcohol during the past 12 months.
The WHO further stated that alcoholic drinks contain ethanol, a psychoactive and toxic substance that can be addictive.
Alcoholic drinks have also been shown to cause various diseases, injuries, and other health conditions, the WHO added.
Moreover, the 2023 NNS revealed that alcohol consumption was more prevalent among adolescent males (25.3%) than females (19.5%).
The same survey showed that adolescents residing in urban areas reported a higher rate of alcohol use (23.3%) compared to their rural counterparts (21.8%).
Furthermore, alcohol consumption is more prevalent among adolescents in the middle to richest wealth quintiles.
In addition to alcohol use, there is an increasing prevalence of obesity among adolescents, affecting 12.5% of this age group, which is linked to excessive alcohol consumption, the survey noted.
On the other hand, 11.5% of adolescents were reported to be wasted or have low weight for their height. Excessive alcohol drinking may affect appetite, thereby missing out on adequate intake of nutrients from food, causing weight loss.
A comprehensive review of the effects of alcohol consumption on intestinal nutrient absorption found that chronic alcohol use is linked to malnutrition, as ethanol disrupts the small intestine’s ability to absorb essential nutrients, including vitamins A, B, and C, as well as various minerals.
These findings call for strengthened intervention programs, especially those targeting male adolescents, who appear to be more prone to both alcohol use (25.3%) and obesity (13.0%).
The DOST-FNRI recommends that schools and local government units focus on early prevention by promoting nutrition education on the ill effects of excessive alcohol consumption and encouraging regular physical activity like engaging in sports as a more productive diversion.
Additionally, the Institute suggests that policymakers and other stakeholders from appropriate governing bodies review and strictly enforce policies on alcohol regulation for minors.
These policies should be coupled with infrastructure support for instilling healthy habits, such as sports facilities, fun runs, native games festivals, tree planting, clean-up drives, and the like.
As recently highlighted by the WHO, there is still no current evidence indicating a safe level of alcohol consumption, and the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage intake.
The DOST-FNRI encourages Filipino teenagers to follow nutritious, balanced diets guided by the Pinggang Pinoy for Teenagers to support a healthy lifestyle.
The Institute also promotes physical activity through information, education, and communication (IEC) materials developed as part of the “Move More for Healthier Filipino teens” project, designed to promote involvement in physical activities among adolescents.
Furthermore, the Institute proposes expanding the implementation of Republic Act No. 10643, which mandates graphic health warnings on to***co products, to include alcoholic beverages.
The results of the 2023 NNS provide policymakers, educators, parents, and health professionals with a key opportunity to implement data-driven interventions and enforcement.
With adolescent health at a critical stage transitioning to early adulthood, DOST-FNRI is committed to assessing the nutritional status of the country by developing effective strategies, programs, technologies, and tools to help every Filipino teen live healthier lives, as they are the future nation-builders.
