Drug Control To Enforce Total Ban On Sachet, Mini

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has restated its commitment to fully enforce the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small bottles below 200ml by December 2025.

Director general of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday, reaffirming that the decision aligns with the Senate’s recent directive and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s position on the matter.

Adeyeye said the move aims to protect public health and curb the growing misuse of alcohol among children, adolescents, and young adults.

“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. We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians for short-term economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth,” she said.

NAFDAC explained that the proliferation of high-alcohol-content drinks in sachets and small bottles has made alcohol more affordable and accessible, particularly to minors and commercial drivers, contributing to rising cases of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices.

The agency recalled that in December 2018, it signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and industry associations, the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), to phase out such packaging by January 31, 2024.

However, the deadline was later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers to exhaust old stock and reconfigure production lines.

Adeyeye emphasised that only spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small PET or glass bottles below 200ml are affected by the regulation, urging all producers, distributors, and retailers to comply fully, as no further extension will be granted beyond December 2025.

She noted that the ban is consistent with Nigeria’s obligations under the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (WHA63.13, 2010).

NAFDAC also pledged to continue working with relevant agencies, including the FCCPC and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), to intensify nationwide sensitisation campaigns on the dangers of alcohol misuse.