NAFDAC Resumes Sachet Alcohol Ban, Denies Company Shutdowns
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed strict enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small containers below 200 millilitres, clarifying that no alcohol-producing company has been shut down as part of the action. The agency emphasized that the move is aimed at addressing serious public health concerns, particularly the rising rates of underage drinking, alcohol abuse, and related social vices.
Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye explained that small, cheap, and easily concealable alcohol packs have contributed to addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, and school dropouts, particularly among children and young adults. She stressed that warning labels such as “Not for Children” have proven largely ineffective in curbing consumption due to societal realities, where these products are readily accessible and often consumed without parental knowledge. “Many parents do not even know their children consume sachet alcohol because the pack size is small, cheap and easily concealed,” she said.
Prof. Adeyeye further highlighted that the ban is protective, not punitive, and is guided by scientific evidence and public health priorities. “This decision is rooted in the need to safeguard the health and future of our children and youth. The health of a nation is its true wealth,” she noted. She clarified that the ban only affects spirit drinks in sachets and containers under 200ml, while alcoholic beverages in larger pack sizes remain approved and unaffected.
NAFDAC recalled that in December 2018, it, alongside the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with manufacturers to phase out sachet alcohol by January 31, 2024. The deadline was later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers to exhaust existing stock and adjust production lines. The agency stated that no further extension will be granted.
Despite the ban, some industry groups, labour unions, and stakeholders, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, have criticized the move as potentially damaging, warning it could displace over 5 million jobs. However, NAFDAC has urged manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply fully with the directive, stressing that public health considerations take precedence over economic concerns.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to working with the Federal Ministry of Health, FCCPC, and the National Orientation Agency to intensify nationwide awareness campaigns about the dangers of alcohol misuse. NAFDAC’s renewed enforcement marks a critical step in protecting young Nigerians from the harmful effects of cheap, high-alcohol-content beverages, reinforcing the agency’s mandate to ensure safe, wholesome, and properly regulated products in the country.
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