The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reaffirmed its plans to fully enforce the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets and small bottles (below 200ml) by December 2025.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said this decision aims to protect public health especially children, teenagers, and young adults from the dangers of excessive alcohol use and the ban is a follow up on the recent directive of the Senate, supported by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
She noted that cheap, high-alcohol drinks in sachets and small bottles have led to serious problems such as addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, and school dropouts.
In 2018, NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) signed a five-year agreement with the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) to phase out these products by 31 January,, 2024. The deadline was later extended to December 2025 to give manufacturers time to clear old stock and adjust their production systems.
Adeyeye explained that the ban is not meant to punish producers but to protect the health and future of Nigerians. “We cannot continue to sacrifice the wellbeing of our people for short-term economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth,” she stated.
The ban applies only to spirit drinks packaged in sachets and bottles smaller than 200ml. NAFDAC urged all manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply fully, warning that there will be no further extensions beyond December 2025.
She concluded by saying that the agency will continue to work with the Federal Ministry of Health, FCCPC, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to raise public awareness about the dangers of alcohol abuse.
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