Minors, Alcohol, Tobacco and Sexuality: Protection Gaps in Abidjan

In Abidjan, teenagers under the age of 18 frequent nighttime entertainment venues, consume alcohol and tobacco, and sometimes find themselves in furnished residences without any apparent age verification being carried out. These situations highlight a gap between legal prohibitions, the practices of certain establishments, and the vulnerability of young people who are still minors.

The issue is not limited to nighttime outings. It also concerns early exposure to addictive substances, sexual relations without a protective framework, approaches by adults, and the difficulty some families face in maintaining appropriate dialogue and supervision.

Minors admitted to places they are prohibited from entering

In Abidjan’s busy open-air bars, teenagers say they can enter without any obstacle as long as they have money. Some state that they go there regularly and consume alcoholic drinks and tobacco without being stopped or made aware of the risks associated with such consumption.

Yet minors’ access to this type of establishment is prohibited under Ivorian legislation, notably Law No. 64-293 of August 1, 1964. The apparent lack of identity checks reported in several entertainment venues therefore raises the direct question of whether this protection is effectively enforced.

The presence of minors is not limited to late evenings. Some young people explain that they began drinking in family or ceremonial settings, after receiving small amounts of alcohol from adults. Others say they were introduced to tobacco at a very early age by friends, older peers or relatives. This normalization can make it more difficult to recognize prohibitions and dangers.

Alcohol and tobacco: documented early exposure

The figures cited for Côte d’Ivoire confirm that the phenomenon deserves particular attention. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey conducted in 2022 indicates that nearly 20% of adolescents aged 13 to 15 have already tried tobacco. A study referred to for 2024 also indicates that 45% of young people consumed alcohol before the age of 15.

These data do not allow individual paths to be reduced to a single cause. They do, however, underline that initiation can take place very early, in a range of environments: family, friendship groups, ceremonies or consumption spaces accessible without checks. When teenagers say these products “do nothing to them,” this may also reflect an underestimation of the risks rather than an absence of consequences.

Prevention therefore cannot rest exclusively on young people themselves. Adults who serve, sell, buy or facilitate access to alcohol and tobacco bear a decisive responsibility. Establishment operators, sellers, relatives and institutions are all concerned with respecting the limits intended to protect minors.

Teenage sexuality: avoiding silence and situations of exploitation

Teenage sexuality is also among the realities raised. Underage girls say they have organized weekends in furnished residences, sometimes without parental permission and while concealing their destination. A 22-year-old adult, for his part, states that the owner of the premises knows that minors stay there but does not object.

The issue is not to pass judgment on teenagers, but to examine the conditions of their safety, consent and protection. When underage girls are in private places with older people, without a family framework or clear oversight, the risks of pressure, manipulation or exploitation cannot be ignored.

In some nighttime venues, collected accounts also mention very young girls being approached by older men in exchange for money and sexual relations. One minor interviewed says she is 16 and negotiates an amount of money. These elements call for caution: they are not sufficient to establish the existence of a network, but they reveal a worrying situation in which minors may be exposed to possible sexual exploitation.

Prevention must also help young people distinguish a respectful relationship from a situation in which an age gap, money, pressure or secrecy weakens their ability to set boundaries. Portrayals of love and sexuality circulating on social media can heighten confusion between emotional staging and dangerous behaviour. In this regard, the article on “niche dreams” and the romanticization of toxic scenarios highlights the importance of not normalizing relationships marked by violence, coercion or domination.

Checks and awareness-raising: a necessary but insufficient response

In response to these observations, officials from the Ministry of Women, Family and Children, accompanied by the morality police unit, carry out surprise inspections in entertainment venues. During a two-hour patrol, 28 girls and boys under the age of 18 were removed from these places. Venue operators are also targeted by enforcement operations.

These interventions serve as a reminder that establishments cannot evade their responsibility. Checking age, refusing minors entry and remaining alert to behaviour likely to place young people in danger are part of their role. However, occasional operations alone cannot resolve practices embedded in everyday life.

The day after the checks, specialist educators conduct awareness-raising activities with families. In particular, they warn about the sale of drinks in sachets near homes and the lack of oversight reported by residents. The message to parents is clear: children observe adults’ behaviour and need consistent guidance.

Family dialogue as a tool for prevention

The Strong Family programme, implemented by the Ministry of Women, Family and Children, aims to strengthen parenting education and prevent risky behaviour among teenagers. According to the available information, more than 3,000 parents and children have been reached since its launch.

Educators emphasize that blended and single-parent families may face particular difficulties in communication and organization. This should not be treated as a single explanation: all families may face tensions, unauthorized outings or difficult conversations. But a lack of dialogue can leave teenagers alone when confronted with approaches from peers, adults or commercial environments that provide little protection.

Talking about sexuality, consent, tobacco, alcohol and outings does not mean encouraging these practices. On the contrary, accessible information can enable young people to ask for help, recognize a risky situation and better understand the possible consequences of their choices. In a context where relationships are also displayed online, it is useful to question models of performative love and spectacular breakups on social media, which can blur relationship boundaries.

A shared responsibility towards minors

Protecting minors depends neither on a single police operation nor on parental authority alone. It requires joint action from families, entertainment establishments, sellers, property owners, social services and public authorities.

Behind every instance of easy access to alcohol, tobacco or an unsuitable place, there may be an adult who allows it, sells it, provides accommodation or looks away. Enforcing existing rules, opening spaces for dialogue and intervening in situations of vulnerability are essential conditions for better protecting teenagers.

Frequently asked questions

Are minors allowed to enter bars in Côte d’Ivoire?

Ivorian legislation, notably Law No. 64-293 of August 1, 1964 mentioned here, prohibits minors from entering this type of establishment. Testimonies nevertheless show that this rule is not always enforced in certain places.

What figures are cited regarding tobacco and alcohol among teenagers?

The 2022 Global Youth Tobacco Survey indicates that nearly 20% of Ivorian adolescents aged 13 to 15 have already tried tobacco. A study referred to for 2024 indicates that 45% of young people consumed alcohol before the age of 15.

Why is the role of adults central?

Minors may be exposed to alcohol, tobacco, nighttime venues or risky sexual situations because adults facilitate their access, do not check their age or fail to react. Prevention therefore involves adults just as much as it involves teenagers.