Implications Of Consumption Of Unrecorded Alcohol On Sustainable Lifestyles Amongst Households In “Shauri Yako” Embu County

ABSTRACT

Living sustainably is apparently the ultimate objective in the cosmos for the resilience of all biotic and abiotic phenomena. Paradoxically, sustainable lifestyles envisaged in sustainable development goals (SDGs), are almost an unfeasible end. Consumption of unrecorded alcohol is hypothesized in this study to be a major inhibitor to attainment of sustainable lifestyles. This study therefore, conducted in Embu County at Shauri “Yako,” sought to find out the effects of consumption of unrecorded alcohol on lifestyles. Specifically, the study sought to: Determine the lifestyles in Shauri “Yako,” identify the unrecorded alcohol sold in Shauri “Yako,” assess the perception of consumers about unrecorded alcohol and investigate the causes of consumption of unrecorded alcohol in the study area. The study also evaluates possible mitigation measures for consumption of unrecorded alcohol. Focus Group Discussions, interview guides, observation checklist and questionnaires were used as instruments for primary data collection. A pilot study was conducted at Ena market, in order to test for validity and reliability of data collection instruments. For the main study, a sample size of 302 respondents was arrived at, using Raosoft Sample Size Calculator, at 95% confidence level with 5.37% error margin. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select respondents. Analysis for this descriptive research was aided by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel package. Thereafter results were presented in form of tables and charts. The study conformed to good ethics throughout pre-fieldwork, fieldwork and post-fieldwork period. Results showed a significant relationship between consumption of unrecorded alcohol and sustainable lifestyles. Majority of respondents consumed unrecorded alcohol (96.7%). Sex disaggregated data for this showed a ratio of 66.6%:33.4% for men and women respectively. Most consumers of unrecorded alcohol were youths (67%). Most respondents disposed wastes and pollutants in the open environment (69.2%). Majority of consumers of unrecorded alcohol preferred their drinks due to availability (50%). The drinks were mostly made from a plant -Kigelia Africana of the family name Bignoniaceae, and honey from Apis Mellifera. If they could afford, 81% would consume the recorded alcohol. This research concluded that consumption of unrecorded alcohol has adverse implications on the lifestyles of consumers. It therefore recommended that, that crucial implements to mitigate the consumption of unrecorded alcohol should be exercised.