The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced that it will enforce a ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles under 200ml, effective December 2025.
NAFDAC Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed the directive during a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.
Prof. Adeyeye emphasised that the ban is protective, not punitive, aimed at safeguarding the health of children and youths.
She also warned that the December deadline is absolute, with no extensions to be granted.
Adeyeye further highlighted that cheap, high-alcohol-content drinks in small containers are easily accessible and affordable, leading to misuse, addiction, and social problems among minors and commercial drivers.
The DG linked the consumption of these beverages to domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices.
The enforcement followed a Senate resolution expressing concern over the widespread availability of sachet alcohol and its impact on public health.
NAFDAC’s push to phase out sachet and small-bottle alcohol started with a 2018 Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and industry bodies including the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN).
The original target for phase-out was January 2024, later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers to adjust production and clear old stock.
The agency warned that from January 2026, it will work with security agencies to ensure full compliance and urged retailers and manufacturers to adhere to the directive.
“We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians for short-term economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth,” Adeyeye said.
This move is part of a broader effort to protect public health and curb the negative social impacts associated with cheap, highly concentrated alcoholic beverages.
