NAFDAC Resumes Full Enforcement of Sachet Alcohol Ban, Says No Company Shut Down

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed full enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small plastic or glass bottles below 200 millilitres, stressing that no alcohol-producing company has been shut down as a result of the action.

NAFDAC said the enforcement, which took effect on Thursday, follows a directive of the Nigerian Senate and is backed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The agency explained that the move is aimed at protecting children, adolescents and other vulnerable groups from the harmful use of alcohol.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, dismissed claims that alcohol factories were sealed, clarifying that only specific packaging formats are affected. According to her, the ban targets spirit drinks sold in sachets and small bottles below 200 millilitres, not alcohol production as a whole.

Adeyeye noted that the availability of alcohol in small, cheap and easily concealable packs has contributed significantly to underage drinking and misuse among some commercial drivers. She linked the trend to rising cases of addiction, domestic violence, road traffic accidents, school dropouts and other social problems.

“This ban is not punitive; it is protective,” she said, adding that the policy is rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations. She argued that warning labels such as “Not for Children” are ineffective in Nigeria, as sachet alcohol can be easily hidden from parents and teachers.

The NAFDAC boss recalled that the policy was not sudden, explaining that manufacturers were given ample time to adjust. In 2018, a five-year Memorandum of Understanding was signed with industry stakeholders to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol by January 2024, later extended to December 2025.

She added that the enforcement aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol. NAFDAC reaffirmed that alcohol in larger pack sizes remains approved and warned that no further extension of the phase-out deadline would be granted.