The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages sold in sachets and small bottles below 200 millilitres, citing public health concerns. The agency clarified that no alcohol-producing company was shut down, and the ban applies only to small-volume packaging.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, explained that the measure aims to protect children, adolescents, and young adults from the harmful effects of alcohol. She noted that small, cheap, high-alcohol-content drinks are easily accessible and concealable, contributing to underage drinking, addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, and school dropouts.
The agency emphasized that previous attempts to warn consumers through labels like “Not for children” have proven ineffective, as many parents are unaware of their children’s consumption. Reports from schools revealed alarming cases, including a student claiming he could not sit for an exam without consuming sachet alcohol.
The ban aligns with a Senate resolution and builds on a 2018 memorandum between NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, and manufacturers to phase out sachet alcohol. The original deadline of January 2024 was extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers to exhaust existing stock and adjust production lines.
The renewed enforcement has sparked protests from industry and labor groups, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and trade unions, who warned of potential job losses affecting over 5.5 million Nigerians. Despite criticism, NAFDAC urged full compliance, stressing that only small-volume alcohol is affected and larger pack sizes remain approved.
