Agency moves against alcohol packaged below 200ml after Senate directive, citing risks to public health and underage access.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced full nationwide enforcement of the ban on the production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles below 200 millilitres across Nigeria.

The enforcement follows a resolution of the Nigerian Senate, which directed NAFDAC to ensure a total halt to the manufacture of such products by December 2025. The directive arose from a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), who argued that the measure aligns Nigeria with global regulatory standards and international best practices aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm.

NAFDAC had earlier announced on November 11, 2025, that the long-awaited ban would take full effect by December 2025. However, speaking at a media briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, the Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, confirmed that active enforcement has now begun following what she described as a renewed “marching order” from the Senate.

According to Adeyeye, the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content drinks in sachets and small containers has made them cheap, easily accessible, and easy to conceal, particularly for minors. She stressed that the agency’s action is not a blanket opposition to alcohol consumption but a targeted response to the dangers posed by highly concentrated alcohol sold in small, disposable packaging.

“The problem is the proliferation of alcohol in sachets and small bottles with very high concentrations, which makes these products readily available to children and other vulnerable groups,” Adeyeye said.

She revealed that some sachet alcohol products previously contained alcohol concentrations ranging from 50 to as high as 90 percent, levels she described as extremely hazardous to public health. Although manufacturers were earlier instructed to reduce alcohol content to 30 percent, many reportedly resisted the directive, citing fears of job losses and reduced investments.

The regulatory push dates back to 2018, when the Federal Ministry of Health granted manufacturers a five-year transition period to comply with revised standards, a deadline that expired on January 31, 2024. With consultations now concluded and legislative backing secured, NAFDAC says it is committed to sustained enforcement of the ban.

The policy has sparked mixed reactions. While the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and some civil society groups warn that the ban could lead to significant economic losses and job cuts, public health advocates have welcomed the move as a crucial step toward curbing underage drinking and reducing alcohol-related health and social problems.

NAFDAC officials confirmed that enforcement operations, including raids, seizures, and sanctions against violators, are already underway nationwide—marking what the agency describes as the definitive end of cheap, high-strength sachet alcohol on Nigerian streets.

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