As the world mark World Alcohol-Free Day under the theme “Enjoy More”, which occurs on the 3rd October 2025, the Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST Ghana) joins the global public health community to celebrate the benefits of living without alcohol, encouraging a focus on authentic connections, genuine joy, and the freedom found in alcohol-free environments.
“As the vibrant voices of Ghana’s youth, we stand united in this celebration, reclaiming our energy for school, sports, innovation, and the families who raised us with hopes, not heartaches” says Godfred Tweneboah-Kodua, youth advocate with VAST Ghana.
Convened by Movendi International and its partners, the day promotes an alcohol-free lifestyle and raises awareness for various causes, including health and wellness, as part of the broader “Sober October” movement. Movendi International highlights that alcohol-free environments foster deeper connections and creativity.
The World Alcohol-Free Day 2025 theme “Enjoy More”, highlights that there is lots of joy connected to alcohol-free environments, events and lives proving we can “enjoy more” without alcohol.
The youth and young people of this generation are joining the global voices across the globe to speak with one voice under the theme “Enjoy More.” “This is not only a slogan but also a conviction drawn from our daily realities. For too long, alcohol has been presented as the key foundational need for fun, friendship, and belonging, but this is wrong. We see it promoted at parties, in advertisements, and even in family spaces without recourse to exposing children to alcohol initiation at a later stage. Yet when we look around us, all we see is how often it robs young people and families of the very joy it promises.” emphasized Winston D. Gamor, a youth advocate with the NCD Alliance, Ghana.
Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that alcohol is a leading cause of death and disability among youth, with those starting to drink in their teens facing up to four times the risk of alcohol dependence later in life. WHO further reminds us that alcohol is the leading risk factor for death and disability among people aged 20 to 39, causing about 13% of all deaths in this age group.
In Ghana, the stakes are painfully high for our generation. The landmark 2023 Ghana STEPS Survey, paints a concerning picture: 22.6% of adults aged 18-69 are current alcohol users, with stark gender disparities (30.6% men vs. 14.5% women) and higher rates in rural areas (28.4%) compared to urban (18.6%). That means thousands of young lives are cut short every single day.
“These are not statistics to us; they are our classmates, friends, and families,” says Francisca Amuzu, a youth advocate with VAST Ghana.
“Enjoy More” is our commitment to reclaiming what alcohol takes away. “Enjoying more” means ending these cycles and building homes where love and respect take the place of fear and pain. This is not just statistics, it’s our siblings skipping school, our cousins in rehabs, and families torn apart when a night out ends in tragedy and road traffic accident claiming innocent lives leading to long-lasting emotional distress and physical harm, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal injuries, or death.
When we live without alcohol, we enjoy more mornings without regret, more evenings with genuine laughter, more celebrations that last in memory and more health in our bodies. Many of us have seen how alcohol disrupts families. It brings tension, abject poverty, and increases domestic and societal violence. It has left children crying silently in rooms while parents argue and the stigmatization these children face when their parents become affected by alcohol reduces their self-confidence and attention in school.
Growing and existing evidence has shown that alcohol harms individuals and entire communities. In many of our neighborhoods, we have seen young people pressured into drinking, believing it makes them more accepted within society or a circle of friends, only to exposed them to harassment and abuse. We have seen young men pushed toward alcohol as a sign of strength, only to be left with addiction and broken futures. These are human costs we can no longer accept.
Choosing alcohol-free lives gives us the power to enjoy more freedom, more dignity, and more opportunities. Young people who stay away from alcohol perform better in school, develop healthier coping skills, and dream bigger. Families that choose alcohol-free celebrations feel more connected.
The voices below echo the stories and experiences of those who have walked this path before.
- Take Ghanaian hiplife legend Lord Kenya, whose accounts of battling alcohol and drug addiction in the 2000s exposed how fame’s glamour masks deep pain. “I lost years to the bottle, but sobriety gave me back my music, my family, my life” says Lord Kenya. We are grateful for icons like him lighting the way.
- “Alcohol promised fun, but it stole my focus—nights blurred into regrets, and my mom’s worried eyes haunt me. On World Alcohol Free Day, let’s choose family game nights over shots. Enjoy more real vibes!” – Ama, 19, University of Ghana student
- “The ads target us with ‘party hard’ lies, but I’ve seen friends crash cars and dreams. We need laws that say no to booze near schools. For my little sister, for our families—time to act now!” – Kofi, 22, Aspiring entrepreneur from Kumasi
- “Sober mornings mean clearer goals. Alcohol divides families; going dry brings us closer. Ghana’s youth are ready to lead alcohol-free—join us and enjoy more love, less loss.” – Efua, 17, Accra high school activist
- “We reject the fallacy that alcohol defines our worth or our joy. Choosing an alcohol-free life is not about missing out; it’s about breaking free from a societal ideology that doesn’t serve us.” –Oko, 18, aspiring footballer from Abokobi
We are not saying that joy must disappear. Our sports, our parties, and our festivals can be more alive when everyone is safe, when memories are clear, and when health is protected. To enjoy more is to live with open eyes, strong hearts, and unbroken futures.
As young Ghanaians, we are demanding change that protects our families and futures. To turn words into wins, we urge the Ministry of Health to complete the alcohol regulation development process and it passage. Building on the May 2025 WHO-SAFER workshop in Ghana that called for stricter marketing bans, age limits, and taxation to curb youth access.
We call on leaders to enforce existing alcohol policy that protect us, reduce alcohol marketing that targets our generation, and prioritize public health over profit.
“World Alcohol-Free Day, 2025 is our chance to rewrite the story. We want the world to see us not as a lost generation, but as a generation that dares to say no to harm and yes to life”, Labram Musah, Executive Director of VAST Ghana.
‘Enjoy More’ is our vision for ourselves, our families, and our communities. When we choose alcohol-free lives, we choose more hope, more love, and more future. This is the world we are building, and we invite everyone to join us.”
