The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced enforcement of its ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles under 200ml.
The agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this at a media briefing held on Wednesday in Lagos.
NAFDAC had initially announced the ban on November 11, 2025, stating that production and sale of such alcohol would be prohibited by December 2025, in compliance with a directive from the Senate. Enforcement was temporarily paused after the federal government called for a suspension of all related actions pending consultations and a final directive.
Prof. Adeyeye said the agency received a matching order from the Senate to proceed with the ban, emphasizing that the decision aims to protect public health, particularly among children, adolescents, and young adults, from the harmful effects of alcohol.
She explained that high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers had become cheap, easily accessible, and concealable, raising concerns about underage consumption.
"We have already started enforcement to ban alcohol production in sachets and bottles below 200ml after receiving the Senate’s order. NAFDAC is not against alcohol, but we oppose the proliferation of high-alcohol-content products in small bottles, to prevent children from easy access," she said.
Prof. Adeyeye noted that before her tenure, sachet alcohol contained 50 to 90 percent alcohol, describing the concentration as dangerously high.
"We instructed manufacturers to reduce content to 30 percent, but they approached the Ministry of Health, citing potential loss of jobs and investments. The then-Minister of Health allowed a five-year adjustment period from December 2018 to January 31, 2024, to restructure their businesses," she added.
She reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to safeguarding national health, stressing that the agency will continue to protect vulnerable groups through its regulatory activities.
Elijah Adeyemi
