Adulterated Alcohol in Burkina Faso: Toxicological Assessment of Commercialized Beverages and Socio-Demographic Determinants of Consumption in Urban and Rural Settings

Abstract

Background: The proliferation of low-cost alcoholic beverages in Burkina Faso raises major public health concerns due to the potential presence of toxic adulterants. However, data on their chemical composition and the socio-demographic characteristics of consumers remain limited.

Methods: A cross-sectional study combining toxicological analysis and a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices survey was conducted from October 2023 to March 2024 in Ouagadougou (urban) and Nanoro (rural) areas. Twenty-nine alcoholic beverage samples were

collected from six retail outlets and analyzed using gas chromatography to detect toxic compounds. A total of 196 consumers were interviewed. Statistical analyses were performed using R software, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: Overall, 62.06% of sampled beverages were adulterated. Locally produced beverages showed a significantly higher rate of adulteration compared to imported products (80% among samples produced in Burkina Faso vs. 22.22% among samples imported

from Ghana). Methanol was the most frequently detected compound, often in combination with higher alcohols and ethyl acetate. Consumer characteristics revealed a mean age of 36.04 ± 13.68 years, with significant associations between drinking patterns and age as well as sector of activity (p < 0.005). Heavy drinking was more prevalent in rural areas.

Conclusion: Adulterated alcoholic beverages are widely present in Burkina Faso and pose significant health risks. Strengthening regulatory monitoring, particularly for locally produced alcohol, and integrating socio-demographic factors into prevention strategies are essential to reduce associated harms.