Abuja — The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday resumed full enforcement of its ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small plastic or glass bottles below 200 millilitres, insisting that no alcohol-producing company has been shut down as a result of the action.
NAFDAC said the enforcement follows a directive of the Nigerian Senate and is backed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, stressing that the policy is aimed solely at protecting children, adolescents and other vulnerable groups from the harmful use of alcohol.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, dismissed claims that alcohol factories were sealed, clarifying that only specific packaging formats are affected.
“NAFDAC did not close down any company that produces alcohol. What we have banned is alcohol in sachets and in small containers below 200 millilitres,” Adeyeye said.
She explained that the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content beverages in small, cheap and easily concealed packs has contributed to increasing alcohol abuse among minors and some commercial drivers. According to her, this trend has been linked to rising cases of addiction, domestic violence, road traffic accidents, school dropouts and other social vices nationwide.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective,” Adeyeye stated. “It is designed to safeguard the health and future of our children and youth. The decision is rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations. We cannot continue to sacrifice the wellbeing of Nigerians for economic gain.”
The NAFDAC boss also rejected suggestions that warning labels such as ‘Not for Children’ could effectively curb underage drinking, noting that enforcement remains impractical in Nigeria.
“Many parents do not know their children consume alcohol because sachet packs are cheap and easily hidden,” she said. “There are reports from schools where students hide sachet alcohol. A teacher recently reported that a student said he could not sit for an examination without first taking sachet alcohol.”
Adeyeye recalled that the policy was not introduced abruptly, noting that manufacturers had been given several years to adjust. In December 2018, NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with industry stakeholders to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024. The moratorium was later extended to December 2025.
She said the renewed enforcement aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol, which prioritises the protection of vulnerable populations.
NAFDAC clarified that alcoholic beverages in larger pack sizes remain approved, stressing that the objective is to make alcohol less accessible to underage persons.
“The small size of sachets makes it easy for children to conceal alcohol from parents and teachers. Larger pack sizes do not,” Adeyeye added.
The agency warned that no further extension of the phase-out deadline would be granted beyond December 2025 and reiterated that only two packaging formats are affected: spirit drinks in sachets and small PET or glass bottles below 200 millilitres.
NAFDAC said it would continue to collaborate with relevant agencies to intensify nationwide sensitisation on the health and social dangers of alcohol misuse, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that only safe, wholesome and properly regulated products are available to Nigerians.
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