NAFDAC Reinforces Ban on Alcohol in Sachets and Small Bottles, Citing Health and Security Risks

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, has reaffirmed the agency’s decision to ban the production and sale of alcohol in sachets and small bottles, following a Senate resolution and a directive from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

She explained that the move strengthens NAFDAC’s commitment to safeguarding public health and protecting vulnerable groups — particularly children, adolescents and young adults — from the harmful effects of alcohol misuse.

“This decisive action underscores our duty to protect Nigerians from the health and social dangers of unregulated alcohol consumption,” Adeyeye said. “Alcohol in sachets and small bottles is cheap, accessible and easy to conceal, making it a major driver of misuse and addiction, especially among minors and commercial drivers.”

The NAFDAC boss noted that the growing availability of high-alcohol-content drinks in small packages poses not only a public health issue but also a national security concern. According to her, early exposure to alcohol among young people often leads to substance abuse and criminal behaviour, contributing to a rise in domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts and other social problems.

Adeyeye clarified that the ban is protective rather than punitive, guided by scientific evidence and aligned with global best practices. “Our decision is to safeguard the health and future of Nigerian youths. We cannot continue to trade public welfare for short-term economic gains. The true wealth of any nation is the health of its people,” she said.

She further explained that the regulation applies specifically to spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200ml, not to all alcoholic beverages.

Recalling earlier efforts, Adeyeye stated that in December 2018, NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with industry groups — 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 2024. The moratorium was later extended to December 2025 to allow producers to adjust their systems.

She emphasised that the Senate’s latest resolution aligns with both the existing agreement and Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (WHA63.13, 2010).

Adeyeye urged manufacturers, distributors and retailers to comply fully with the December 2025 deadline, warning that no further extension would be granted.

On enforcement, she said NAFDAC will continue collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health, the FCCPC and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to intensify nationwide campaigns against the health and social risks of alcohol misuse.

“This is a shared responsibility,” she added. “We must act together to protect the health, safety and future of our people.”