NAFDAC re-enforces sachet alcohol ban

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed strict enforcement of its ban on alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and small plastic or glass bottles below 200 millilitres, dismissing claims that it shut down any manufacturing companies.

The agency clarified that the action targets only the production and sale of alcohol in small containers, not the closure of factories, and said the measure is driven by public health concerns.

In a statement issued on Thursday, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, explained that the renewed enforcement is intended to protect children, adolescents and young adults from the harmful effects of alcohol consumption.

She said the move aligns with a Senate resolution and the agency’s mandate to safeguard public health.

According to NAFDAC, the easy availability of high-alcohol-content drinks in sachets and small bottles has made alcohol cheaper, more accessible and easier to conceal, fueling underage drinking, addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts and other social problems.

Adeyeye noted that warning labels such as “Not for children” have had little impact, as many parents remain unaware their children consume sachet alcohol due to its discreet packaging. She cited reports from schools, including a case where a student allegedly said he could not sit an examination without first taking alcohol.

NAFDAC recalled that in December 2018, it signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, alongside manufacturers, to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024. The deadline was later extended to December 2025 to allow companies to clear existing stock and adjust production lines.

Adeyeye stressed that the current enforcement is consistent with that agreement and Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol.

“This ban is not punitive but protective,” she said. “It is based on scientific evidence and aimed at safeguarding the health and future of young Nigerians.”

She clarified that only spirit drinks in sachets and bottles below 200ml are affected, while alcoholic beverages in larger packaging remain approved.

However, the policy has drawn backlash from industry groups and labour unions. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and other stakeholders, including the Food and Beverage Tobacco Outgrowers and Bottlers (FOBTOB), have criticised the decision, warning of potential economic fallout.

Members of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress recently protested at NAFDAC’s Lagos office, arguing that the ban could threaten the livelihoods of about 5.5 million Nigerians.

Protesters described the move as poorly timed and harmful to low-income consumers who rely on affordable sachet spirits.

Despite the resistance, NAFDAC insisted there will be no further extensions beyond December 2025 and urged manufacturers, distributors and retailers to comply fully.

The agency said it would continue working with relevant government bodies to increase public awareness about the dangers of alcohol misuse and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that only safe and properly regulated products are available in the Nigerian market.