The Federal Government has officially banned the production, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres, citing public health and safety concerns.
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the announcement on Tuesday during a press briefing in Abuja, disclosing that full enforcement of the ban will commence on January 1, 2026.
According to Prof. Adeyeye, the decision followed a resolution of the Senate and a directive from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, both of which align with NAFDAC’s responsibility to safeguard public health and protect vulnerable populations, especially children, adolescents, and young adults.
“This decisive action underscores our duty to protect Nigerians from the health and social hazards of unregulated alcohol consumption,” she said. “Alcohol in sachets and small bottles is cheap, accessible, and easily concealable, making it a major driver of misuse and addiction, particularly among minors and commercial drivers.”
The NAFDAC boss revealed that the Federal Government has also approved the recruitment of 1,000 additional personnel for the agency, beginning in December, to strengthen enforcement and regulatory operations across the country.
Prof. Adeyeye further explained that the proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in small packages has fueled not only public health challenges but also national security concerns, as early alcohol exposure among youths is often linked to substance abuse and criminal behaviour.
She described the policy as protective rather than punitive, stressing that it is rooted in scientific evidence and global best practices.
“We cannot continue to trade national well-being for short-term economic gains. Our decision is guided by the need to protect the health and future of Nigerian youths,” she said.
The regulation, she clarified, specifically targets spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200ml, and does not cover all alcoholic beverages.
Prof. Adeyeye recalled that in December 2018, NAFDAC, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with 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 deadline was later extended to December 2025 to allow industry operators to adjust their production systems.
She noted that the latest Senate resolution is in line with that agreement and with Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Organisation’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (WHA63.13, 2010).
The NAFDAC DG warned that no further extensions will be granted beyond December 2025 and urged all stakeholders—manufacturers, distributors, and retailers—to comply with the new directive.
On enforcement, she said the agency will work closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, FCCPC, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to carry out nationwide awareness campaigns on the dangers of alcohol misuse.
“This is a shared responsibility,” Adeyeye concluded. “We must act collectively to protect the health, safety, and future of our nation.”
