Moshi, February 23, 2024 - Secondary school students have been urged to avoid underage drinking to secure their
time at school and protect their health. The important campaign, SMASHED, which was launched at Msasani Secondary
School to combat underage drinking, is supported by Serengeti Breweries Limited. This program uses the art of drama
to highlight the growing social issue of underage drinking and its negative impact on students.
The campaign was launched by the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Hon. Nurdin Babu, who emphasized the collective
commitment to protect the well-being and future of Tanzania's youth. He said, "It is encouraging to see a beer
company fighting against underage drinking. SBL is setting a very good example for the community." He continued,
"I hope that we can learn and collaborate with them to protect future generations from underage drinking."
Tanzania is one of the African countries where many young people start drinking at an early age. A study conducted in
2019 in the Mwanza and Kilimanjaro regions found that the level of alcohol consumption among secondary school
students aged 15 and older ranged from 12.9% for girls in Mwanza to 63.9% for boys in Kilimanjaro. Meanwhile,
alcohol consumption among students aged 13-15 in Dar es Salaam was recorded at 5.6%.
Speaking at the program launch at Msasani Secondary School in Moshi, SBL's Managing Director, Obinna Anyalebechi,
said, "SBL is proud to support the launch of the SMASHED program against underage drinking as it reinforces our
efforts to ensure that our products are not sold or consumed by anyone under the age of 18."
"This program provides vital education on the negative effects of underage drinking for young people and society at
large. It combines the use of drama performances and student engagement in learning environments that motivate and
empower them with skills, confidence, and the ability to make informed decisions, while fostering positive attitudes
toward caring for and protecting their health," said Obinna Anyalebechi, SBL Managing Director.
SBL initiated the program two years ago, educating underage students in Dar es Salaam and Tanga regions, where the
company reached over 20,000 students in these two areas.