The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed enforcement of its ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and containers below 200 millilitres, stressing that the move is driven by public health concerns.
The agency clarified that no alcohol-producing company has been shut down, explaining that the restriction applies strictly to sachet alcohol and small plastic or glass bottles.
In a statement issued on Thursday, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the renewed enforcement aligns with a Senate resolution and the agency’s mandate to safeguard public health.
“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 Senate resolution and our public health mandate,” she said.
Adeyeye warned that the availability of cheap, easily concealed alcohol has contributed significantly to underage drinking, addiction and other social challenges, adding that warning labels such as “Not for children” have proven ineffective.
“Many parents do not even know their children consume sachet alcohol because the pack size is small, cheap and easily concealed,” she said.
She also referenced reports from schools, including an instance where a pupil allegedly claimed he could not sit for an examination without first consuming sachet alcohol.
NAFDAC explained that the enforcement follows an agreement reached with manufacturers in 2018 to phase out small-pack alcohol by January 2024, a deadline that was later extended to December 2025.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective,” Adeyeye said. “The health of a nation is its true wealth.”
Despite criticisms from industry groups and labour unions, who have warned of possible job losses, NAFDAC maintained that no further extensions would be granted and called on all stakeholders to comply fully with the directive.
Elijah Adeyemi
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