The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has approved a complete ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles below 200ml effective from December this year.
The agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who disclosed the ban on the affected alcoholic drinks during a press briefing in Abuja, attributed the decision on growing public concerns over the misuse of cheap, high-alcohol-content drinks, especially among minors and commercial drivers.
She explained: “The proliferation of alcohol in sachets and small containers has made such products easily accessible, affordable, and concealable, leading to widespread misuse and addiction.
“This public health menace has been linked to rising cases of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices”, Adeyeye added.
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According to her, the decision of the NAFDAC is sequel to a Senate resolution expressing alarm over the increasing availability of sachet alcohol to minors.
Adeyeye recalled that the agency had previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with industry stakeholders for a phased withdrawal, but the final deadline is now set for December 2025, with no further extension.
She said that enforcement of the ban on the satchet and small bottle alcoholic drinks would commence in January 2026, in collaboration with security agencies.
The Director-General maintained: “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. The health of a nation is its true wealth.”
