NAFDAC Begins Fresh Enforcement of Senate-Approved Ban on Alcohol Sachets, Small Bottles

By Admin

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced renewed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200 millilitres, following a recent resolution by the Nigerian Senate.

The agency clarified that no alcohol manufacturing company has been shut down, explaining that the enforcement is limited to restricting specific packaging formats considered harmful to public health.

The clarification was contained in a statement signed by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, and issued in Abuja on Thursday.

According to NAFDAC, the enforcement directive, backed by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, aligns with the agency’s statutory responsibility to protect public health, especially among vulnerable groups such as children, adolescents and young adults.

The agency expressed concern that the proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers has made alcohol cheap, easily accessible and easy to conceal, thereby encouraging misuse and addiction among minors and some commercial drivers.

It linked the trend to rising cases of domestic violence, road traffic accidents, school dropouts and other social vices in several communities.
NAFDAC said warning labels such as “Not for children” on sachets and small containers have proved ineffective within the Nigerian social context, noting that many parents are unaware their children consume alcohol because sachets are inexpensive and can be easily hidden.

The agency recalled that in December 2018, it, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024. The moratorium was later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers exhaust old stock and reconfigure their production lines.

NAFDAC said the current enforcement is consistent with the MoU and Nigeria’s obligations under the World Health Assembly Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (WHA63.13, 2010), which seeks to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children and youths.

The agency explained that alcohol packaged in larger volumes remains approved, stressing that smaller packs make it easier for underage consumers to conceal alcohol use from parents and teachers. It cited reports from schools indicating that students hide sachet alcohol, including a recent incident in which a student reportedly claimed he could not sit for an examination without first consuming sachet alcohol.

Reaffirming its stance, NAFDAC emphasised that it has not closed down any alcohol-producing company, but has only prohibited alcohol packaged in sachets and containers below 200 millilitres.

Speaking on the policy, Prof. Adeyeye described the ban as a protective public health measure.

“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth by not allowing alcohol in small pack sizes. The decision is rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations. We cannot continue to sacrifice the wellbeing of Nigerians for economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth,” she said.

NAFDAC further clarified that only two categories of alcoholic beverage packaging are affected by the regulation—spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200 millilitres.

The agency urged manufacturers, distributors and retailers to comply fully with the phase-out deadline, stressing that no further extension will be granted beyond December 2025.

The agency added that it will continue to work with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the FCCPC and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to implement nationwide sensitisation campaigns on the health and social risks associated with alcohol misuse.

NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that only safe, wholesome and properly regulated products are made available to Nigerians.