The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small plastic or glass bottles below 200 millilitres.
The agency clarified that it did not shut down any alcohol-producing company, but only prohibited the sale of alcohol in sachets and small containers due to public health concerns. In a statement on Thursday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, said the move aims to protect children, adolescents, and young adults from the harmful use of alcohol.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has resumed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200ml, in line with a resolution of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Agency’s public health mandate,” the statement read.
NAFDAC noted that the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers makes alcohol cheap, easily accessible, and easily concealable, contributing to underage drinking, addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices. Adeyeye stated that warning labels such as “Not for children” had proven ineffective, as many parents are unaware that their children consume sachet alcohol.
She cited reports from schools showing disturbing trends, including a recent case where a teacher revealed that a student said he could not sit for an examination without first taking sachet alcohol.
NAFDAC recalled that in December 2018, it, alongside the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with manufacturers to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024. The moratorium was later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers to exhaust existing stock and reconfigure production lines.
“The current Senate resolution aligns with the spirit and letter of that agreement and with Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol,” Adeyeye said.
She stressed that the ban is protective, not punitive, aiming to safeguard the health and future of children and youth. Only spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small bottles below 200ml are affected, while larger pack sizes remain approved.
The renewed enforcement has sparked reactions from industry, labour, and public stakeholders. The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and groups including the Food and Beverage Tobacco Outgrowers and Bottlers (FOBTOB) criticised the move as potentially damaging.
On January 23, members of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Labour Congress, and Trade Union Congress protested at NAFDAC’s Lagos office, warning that the ban could displace over 5.5 million Nigerians from their jobs.
NAFDAC, however, called on manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply fully, stressing that no further extension would be granted. The agency will continue collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the FCCPC, and the National Orientation Agency to intensify nationwide sensitisation on the dangers of alcohol misuse, ensuring that only safe and properly regulated products are available to Nigerians.
