The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) declared on Thursday that it only ban alcohol in sachet and small containers less than 200ml, and didn’t close down any company in the sector.

“The aim of the ban is to protect vulnerable population such as children and the youth,” said Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director-General, NAFDAC, asserting:”This ban is not punitive; it is protective.”

In a statement , the NAFDAC DG, emphasised that the ban was in line with the recent directive of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and backed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, underscores the agency’s statutory mandate to safeguard public health and protect vulnerable populations particularly children, adolescents, and young adults from the harmful use of alcohol.

The proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers less than 200 ml has made such products easily accessible, affordable, and concealable, leading to widespread misuse and resultant addiction among minors and some commercial drivers.

This public health menace has been linked to increased incidences of domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and social vices across communities.

Placing a label to read not for children on the sachets and the small containers will not work. It cannot be enforced because of the peculiarity of the society.

Many parents dont know their children take alcohol in sachet because the pack size can be easily concealed and the sachet is cheap. History of six years of moratorium given to manufacturers to reconfigure their product lines:

In December 2018, NAFDAC, 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 sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024.

The moratorium was later extended to December 2025 to allow industry operators to exhaust old stock and reconfigure production lines.

NAFDAC emphasizes that 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 Resolution to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (WHA63.13, 2010), to which Nigeria is a signatory since 2010.

The ban on sachet packaging and PET botttle less than 200 ml is to make it difficult for children to get to alcohol and its consumption.

NAFDAC approves alcohol in bigger pack sizes. The small size of the sachet makes it easier for underage to conceal from parents and teachers.

Report from schools show that children conceal the sachets. A teacher recently reported that a student said he couldnt take exam without taking sachet alcohol.

It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth by not allowing alcohol in small pack sizes.

The decision is rooted in scientific evidence and public health considerations. We cannot continue to sacrifice the wellbeing of Nigerians for economic gain.

The health of a nation is its true wealth.NAFDAC reiterates that only two packages of alcoholic beverages are affected by this regulation – spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small-volume PET/glass bottles below 200ml.

The Agency calls on all stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, to comply fully with the phase-out deadline, as no further extension will be entertained beyond December 2025.

The Agency will continue to work collaboratively with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to implement nationwide sensitization campaigns on the health and social dangers associated with alcohol misuse.

NAFDAC remains resolute in its mission to ensure that only safe, wholesome, and properly regulated products are available to Nigerians.