The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed the enforcement of its ban on the production and sale of alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and small plastic or glass bottles below 200 millilitres. The decision has reopened a long-running debate in Nigeria between public health concerns and the economic impact on manufacturers, workers and traders.
NAFDAC said the renewed enforcement does not mean that alcohol-producing companies have been shut down, contrary to claims circulating in some quarters. According to the agency, only alcoholic beverages sold in sachets and very small containers are affected, while drinks packaged in larger bottles and cans remain approved for sale.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, explained that the move is aimed at protecting children, adolescents and young adults from the harmful use of alcohol.
“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control 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 200ml, in line with a resolution of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the agency’s public health mandate,” the statement said.
According to NAFDAC, the widespread sale of strong alcoholic drinks in sachets and small bottles has made alcohol cheap, easy to buy and easy to hide. This, the agency said, has contributed to growing cases of underage drinking and other social problems across the country.
NAFDAC listed some of these problems as addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts and other social vices. The agency argued that when alcohol is sold in very small and cheap quantities, it becomes easier for young people, including school children, to access it without the knowledge of their parents or guardians.
Prof. Adeyeye noted that warning labels such as “Not for children” printed on sachet alcohol have not worked in Nigeria’s social setting.
“Many parents do not even know their children consume sachet alcohol because the pack size is small, cheap and easily concealed,” she said.
She added that reports from schools have shown worrying trends. In one case shared with the agency, a teacher reportedly disclosed that a student said he could not sit for an examination unless he first took sachet alcohol.
The ban on sachet alcohol is not new. In December 2018, NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with alcohol manufacturers. The agreement was to gradually phase out the production and sale of sachet alcohol and small-volume spirits by January 31, 2024.
The idea behind the agreement was to give manufacturers enough time to adjust, exhaust existing stock and change their production lines to focus on larger and safer pack sizes.
Later, the deadline was extended to December 2025 following appeals from industry players who said they needed more time to comply fully with the new rules.
NAFDAC said the current Senate resolution backing the enforcement is in line with that earlier agreement and with Nigeria’s commitment to global health standards.
“The current Senate resolution aligns with the spirit and letter of that agreement and with Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol,” Prof. Adeyeye said.
She stressed that the ban is not meant to punish businesses but to protect Nigerians, especially young people.
“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,” she said.
“The decision is rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations. We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians for economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth.”
NAFDAC was clear that only spirit drinks packaged in sachets and in small plastic or glass bottles below 200 millilitres are affected by the enforcement. The agency said alcoholic beverages sold in larger bottles, cans and other approved pack sizes are still allowed.
The clarification came after reports suggested that NAFDAC had shut down some alcohol-producing companies. The agency denied these claims, insisting that no factory was closed as a result of the enforcement.
NAFDAC also warned that there would be no further extension beyond December 2025. Manufacturers, distributors and retailers have been asked to fully comply with the directive before that deadline.
The renewed enforcement has drawn strong reactions from different groups, including manufacturers, labour unions and trade associations.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other stakeholders, such as the Food and Beverage Tobacco Outgrowers and Bottlers (FOBTOB), criticised the policy, describing it as inconsistent and harmful to the economy.
On January 23, members of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, alongside the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), staged a protest at the Lagos office of NAFDAC.
The protesters warned that the ban could lead to massive job losses across the value chain, from production to distribution and retail.
According to them, no fewer than 5.5 million Nigerians could be displaced if sachet alcohol is completely removed from the market.
Some protesters argued that the policy does not properly balance public health goals with Nigeria’s economic realities. They said sachet spirits are widely consumed by low-income earners who cannot afford more expensive alcoholic drinks sold in larger bottles.
They also raised concerns about small traders and hawkers who depend on the sale of sachet alcohol for their daily income.
Despite the criticism, NAFDAC has stood by its decision. The agency called on all stakeholders to look beyond immediate economic concerns and consider the long-term health and social cost of alcohol abuse.
NAFDAC said it would continue to work with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the FCCPC and the National Orientation Agency to step up public awareness campaigns on the dangers of alcohol misuse.
The agency said education and sensitisation would focus especially on young people, parents and communities where alcohol abuse is common.
NAFDAC also reaffirmed its wider mandate to ensure that only safe, wholesome and properly regulated products are available to Nigerians.
As the December 2025 deadline approaches, the debate over sachet alcohol is expected to continue. While public health advocates have welcomed the enforcement as a bold step to protect Nigeria’s youth, industry players and labour unions are pushing for a more flexible approach that takes jobs and livelihoods into account.