By Ayo Kehinde
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has reaffirmed its commitment to fully enforce the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small-volume bottles (below 200ml) by December 2025.
This follows the recent directive of the Senate, which insisted that NAFDAC must not shift the December 31, 2025 deadline for the phase-out of such packaging formats.
The Senate resolution, passed on November 6, came after a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong (Cross River South).
The lawmakers argued that cheap, easily accessible alcohol in sachets and small bottles has contributed to rising addiction rates, particularly among minors and commercial drivers.
In a statement on Tuesday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the ban aligns with the agency’s mandate to safeguard public health and protect vulnerable groups.
Adeyeye stated, “The proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers has made these products easily accessible and concealable, leading to widespread misuse among children, adolescents, and commercial drivers
“This has been linked to increased domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and social vices.”
The planned prohibition stems from a five-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2018 between NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, and manufacturers under the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria. The agreement initially set January 31, 2024, as the end date but was later extended to December 2025.
Adeyeye stressed that the move is based on scientific evidence and national health priorities.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians for short-term economic gain,” she said.
NAFDAC clarified that the policy applies only to spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small PET or glass bottles under 200ml.
The agency urged manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to adhere strictly to the deadline, warning that no further extension will be granted.
NAFDAC said it would continue working with relevant agencies to intensify public sensitization on the health risks associated with alcohol misuse.
