NAFDAC ENFORCES SENATE BACKED BAN ON ALCOHOL IN SACHETS, SMALL BOTTLES

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200 millilitres, following a recent directive by the Nigerian Senate.

NAFDAC clarified that no alcohol-producing company has been shut down, stressing that the enforcement strictly targets specific packaging formats considered harmful to public health.

This was confirmed in statement signed by Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, and issued in Abuja on Thursday.

The enforcement action, ordered by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and supported by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is in line with NAFDAC’s statutory mandate to safeguard public health, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children, adolescents and young adults.

According to the agency, the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content drinks in sachets and small containers has made them cheap, easily accessible and easy to conceal, contributing to alcohol misuse and addiction among minors and some commercial drivers.

NAFDAC linked the trend to rising cases of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts and other social vices in many communities.NAFDAC noted that warning labels such as “Not for children” on sachets and small containers have proven ineffective, given societal realities.

Many parents, the agency said, are unaware that their children consume alcohol because sachets are easily concealed and inexpensive.

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

The moratorium was later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers exhaust existing stock and reconfigure their production lines.

NAFDAC said the renewed enforcement aligns with both the MoU and Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (WHA63.13, 2010), which aims to protect vulnerable groups, including children and youths.

The agency explained that alcohol packaged in larger sizes remains approved, noting that smaller packs make it easier for underage users to hide consumption from parents and teachers.

It cited reports from schools indicating that students conceal sachets, including a recent account where a student reportedly claimed he could not sit for an examination without first consuming sachet alcohol.

Reiterating its position, NAFDAC stated that it has not closed any alcohol-producing company, but has only banned alcohol packaged in sachets and containers below 200 millilitres.

Speaking on the policy, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, said the ban is protective rather than punitive.“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth by not allowing alcohol in small pack sizes.

The decision is rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations. We cannot continue to sacrifice the wellbeing of Nigerians for economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth,” she said.

NAFDAC further clarified that only two categories of alcoholic beverage packaging are affected: spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200 millilitres.

The agency called on manufacturers, distributors and retailers to fully comply with the phase-out deadline, stressing that no further extensions will be granted beyond December 2025.

The agency also said it would continue to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the FCCPC and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to roll out nationwide sensitisation campaigns on the health and social dangers of alcohol misuse.

NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that only safe, wholesome and properly regulated products are available to Nigerians.