The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has resumed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and in plastic or glass containers below 200 millilitres, citing public health concerns.
NAFDAC clarified on Thursday that the renewed action does not involve the shutdown of any alcohol-producing company, but strictly targets the sale of spirits in small pack sizes.
In a statement, the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, said the enforcement aligns with a Senate resolution and NAFDAC’s mandate to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, particularly among young people.
“NAFDAC 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,” Adeyeye said.
She explained that the widespread availability of alcohol in small, cheap and easily concealed packs has contributed to rising cases of underage drinking, addiction, domestic violence, road crashes, school dropouts and other social problems.
According to Adeyeye, warning labels such as “Not for children” have failed to curb misuse due to social realities.
“Many parents do not even know their children consume sachet alcohol because the packs are cheap, small and easy to hide,” she noted.
The NAFDAC boss also disclosed troubling reports from schools, including a case where a student reportedly claimed he could not sit for an examination without first consuming sachet alcohol.
She recalled that in December 2018, NAFDAC, 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 deadline was later extended to December 2025 to allow producers exhaust existing stock and adjust production lines.
“The current Senate resolution is consistent with the spirit and letter of that agreement and Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol,” Adeyeye said.
She stressed that the policy is protective, not punitive.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth. The decision is rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations,” she added.
NAFDAC clarified that only spirit drinks in sachets and containers below 200ml are affected, noting that alcoholic beverages in larger pack sizes remain approved.
The renewed enforcement has drawn criticism from industry stakeholders. Groups including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the Food and Beverage Tobacco Outgrowers and Bottlers have described the move as inconsistent and potentially harmful to jobs.
On January 23, members of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, alongside the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, protested at NAFDAC’s Lagos office, warning that millions of jobs could be lost.
Despite the pushback, NAFDAC urged manufacturers, distributors and retailers to comply, insisting there would be no further extension beyond December 2025.
The agency said it would continue working with relevant government bodies to intensify nationwide sensitisation on the dangers of alcohol misuse, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that only safe and properly regulated products are available to Nigerians.
