Some Nigerians have said they turn to beer as a way of easing frustration and coping with stress brought on by harsh living conditions in the country.
Despite shrinking incomes and rising living costs, they explained that consuming a few bottles of beer helps them calm down and strategise better.
Many Nigerians continue to spend scarce resources on beer and other alcoholic beverages, a habit they say offers temporary relief from daily pressures.
Speaking with beer consumers across different socio-economic backgrounds, our correspondent gathered that for many, alcohol has become a coping mechanism for stress, unemployment, and uncertainty.
Some of them described it as an affordable escape in the face of worsening hardship.
Beer, an alcoholic beverage produced by brewing and fermentation of starches from cereal grains, most commonly malted barley, has been one of the most consumed beverages in Nigeria.
From parties, social gatherings, and hangouts in bars and lounges, beer and other alcoholic beverages are part of the offerings people consume alongside other delicacies.
In bars, beer parlours, and lounges, these beverages are paired with pepper soup, peppered meat, grilled fish, suya, Nnkwobi, and Nsiewu, among others, for a memorable event or hangout.
N1.54tn spent on beer, others in nine months
Against the backdrop of rising living costs and shrinking disposable incomes, Nigerians’ cumulative spending on beer translated into the N1.54tn revenue reported by brewing companies in the first nine months of 2025.
The figure underscores the scale of beer and other alcohol beverages consumption among Nigerians despite prevailing economic pressures.
Nigerian Breweries Plc, International Breweries Plc, and Champion Breweries Plc generated a combined revenue of over N1.54tn from the sale of beer and other non-alcoholic drinks in the first nine months of 2025.
This figure indicates the estimated amount spent by Nigerians on brewery products during the review period.
According to the unaudited financial statements of the three major listed brewers, for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the companies collectively recorded strong top-line performance driven largely by beer sales.
Nigerian Breweries Plc, the largest brewer in the country, recorded net revenue of N1.05tn for the period, up from N710.87bn in the corresponding period of 2024. Cost of sales stood at N631.23bn, resulting in a gross profit of N415.15bn.
International Breweries Plc, which operates in Nigeria and other West African markets, generated revenue of ₦472.57bn for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, up from ₦343.45bn in the same period of 2024.
While Champion Breweries Plc recorded revenue of ₦21.44bn for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, up from ₦14.02bn in the same period of 2024. The company posted a profit after tax of ₦2.05bn, compared with ₦21.50m in 2024. Cost of sales rose to ₦11.14bn from ₦N8.13bn, while selling and distribution expenses increased to ₦4.24bn from ₦3.25bn.
Overall, the combined revenue of the three companies amounted to ₦1.54tn, with Nigerian Breweries Plc accounting for the bulk of sales.
Why we take beer – Nigerians
Findings in bars and lounges around Lagos and Ogun States revealed that, depending on the brand and location, a bottle of beer costs between ₦1,000 and ₦2,500.
The findings were in sharp contrast to the announced price increase by Nigerian Breweries Plc in February 2024, which saw beer drinkers in Nigeria paying as much as ₦1,300 for a bottle.
As of then, the new price list shows that a bottle of Gulder, which used to sell for ₦700 sold for ₦950, while Star Lager and 33 Extra beer from ₦600, rose to ₦850.
Also, following the price hike in 2024, beer drinkers pay ₦1,300 for a bottle of Heineken, Life beer goes for ₦850, and ₦1,250 for a bottle of Legend, while Tiger beer was sold for ₦750.
But for several Nigerians, consuming beer is one of the few affordable comforts left in Nigeria with the prevailing economic reality.
They noted that with the prices, they now restrict themselves to three bottles at most in a sitting.
A corporate worker, Sola Ajisafe, said he takes beer for several reasons, but most importantly, to escape pressures.
