NAFDAC Resumes Ban Of Sachet Alcohol

NAFDAC Resumes Ban Of Sachet Alcohol

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has restarted enforcement of the ban on alcoholic drinks sold in sachets and small plastic or glass bottles below 200 millilitres, insisting the action is about public health and not factory closures.

The agency said reports suggesting alcohol companies were shut down are false.

NAFDAC explained that the decision affects only the sale and packaging of spirits in very small containers, not the operations of producers.

According to the agency, the renewed enforcement follows concerns raised at the national level over how easily accessible these products have become, especially to children and young people.

It said the move aligns with an existing resolution of the Senate and the agency’s duty to protect public health.

Adeyeye said warning labels such as “Not for children” have failed to curb misuse, pointing to reports from schools where alcohol consumption among students is becoming more visible.

NAFDAC recalled that in December 2018 it signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with other federal agencies and manufacturers to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol by January 31, 2024.

The deadline was later shifted to December 2025 to give producers time to adjust.

The renewed enforcement has drawn strong reactions from manufacturers and labour groups.

Industry bodies and unions have warned of job losses and staged protests at NAFDAC’s Lagos office, arguing that the policy could hurt low-income consumers who rely on cheap sachet spirits.

Despite the pushback, NAFDAC said no further extension would be granted beyond December 2025 and urged full compliance, stressing that alcoholic drinks in larger pack sizes remain approved.
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