NAFDAC Begins Full Enforcement Of Sachet Alcohol Ban

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small plastic or glass bottles below 200ml, following a fresh directive from the Senate.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement on Thursday, clarified that the agency did not shut down any alcohol-producing company, contrary to speculations,  stressing that NAFDAC is only enforcing the ban on specific packaging formats considered harmful to young people.

Prof. Adeyeye said the renewed enforcement aligns with the Senate’s mandate and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s position to protect vulnerable groups, particularly children, teenagers, and young adults, from easy access to high-alcohol products.

She said alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and small containers have become a major public health concern because they are cheap, easily accessible, and concealable, making them particularly attractive to minors.

These products, she noted, have contributed to rising cases of addiction, domestic violence, school dropouts, road accidents, and other social vices.

“Parents are often unaware that their children consume alcohol in sachets because they can hide them easily,” Prof. Adeyeye said, adding that even labels like “Not for children” have proven ineffective.

She cited reports from schools where students conceal sachet alcohol, including one case where a student claimed he could not sit for an examination without taking alcohol.

Prof. Adeyeye recalled that manufacturers had ample notice to phase out sachet and small-bottle packaging. In 2018, NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) signed a five-year agreement with industry groups to eliminate such packaging by January 2024. The deadline was later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers to exhaust old stock and adjust their production lines.

She emphasised that the Senate’s recent resolution is consistent with both that agreement and Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly 2010.

NAFDAC reiterated that only spirit drinks packaged in sachets and bottles with a capacity of less than 200ml are affected by the ban. Alcoholic beverages in larger containers remain approved for production and sale.

The Agency warned that manufacturers, distributors, and retailers must fully comply, as no further extension of the phase-out deadline will be granted.

NAFDAC said it will continue collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health, the FCCPC, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to intensify public sensitisation on the dangers of alcohol misuse.

The DG reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring that only safe and properly regulated products reach the Nigerian market.