Beverly Afaglo Raises Concerns Over Youth Smoking, Drinking, and Casual Sex

Ghanaian actress Beverly Afaglo has voiced concerns over the growing trends of smoking, drinking, and casual sex among the youth, which she believes have become increasingly common and troubling.

Speaking in an interview with Accra FM’s Nana Romeo on Wednesday, September 25, 2024,  the thespian shared her thoughts on the behaviors that are negatively affecting young people today, urging society to take action.

“The smoking and drinking are getting out of hand,” she remarked, emphasizing how normalized these habits have become. Reflecting on her own upbringing, she explained, “For those of us born in the 80s, when you heard someone smoked, they were seen as a bad influence. Now, the world is more open, and smoking weed isn’t seen as terribly bad, but young people are getting involved far too early.”

Beverly also highlighted how casual smoking and drinking have become part of everyday life for many youths, some even renting AirBnBs for wild parties where reckless behavior is rampant. She expressed her concern over the consequences, including waking up with no memory of the previous night’s actions.

As a mother of two, Beverly is particularly worried about the decline in HIV awareness. She noted that during her youth, HIV was a major concern, with visible reminders on television that made people more cautious. “I worry that HIV awareness isn’t loud anymore,” she said, warning that despite medical advancements, the virus still has serious implications, especially in relationships and marriage.

She cautioned HIV, though not a death sentence in 2024, greatly complicated one’s life.

“It’s not an easy thing to constantly be on medication. It’ll complicate your love life, also. Someone who doesn’t have the status may not be interested in marrying you and may not agree to make a baby with you,” she warned.

Th called on parents, teachers, and the media to raise awareness and guide the younger generation to make more responsible decisions.