By Nworisa Michael
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles below 200 millilitres.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, announced the development on Wednesday during a media briefing in Lagos, stating that the action followed a renewed directive from the Senate.
Adeyeye explained that the enforcement aligns with an earlier Senate resolution mandating a total ban on such products due to public health concerns. She recalled that NAFDAC had initially announced plans on November 11, 2025, to begin full enforcement by December of the same year.
However, the process was temporarily halted after the Federal Government directed the agency to suspend enforcement pending further consultations and a final policy position. According to Adeyeye, the agency has now received a matching directive from the Senate authorising it to proceed.
She said the ban targets the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers, noting that such packaging makes alcohol easily accessible, affordable, and easily concealed, particularly by children and young people.
“We have commenced enforcement against alcohol production in sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres after receiving the Senate’s order. NAFDAC is not opposed to alcohol production, but to the proliferation of high-alcohol-content drinks in sachets and small bottles that make access easy for children,” Adeyeye said.
The NAFDAC boss further disclosed that prior to her appointment, some sachet alcohol products contained between 50 and 90 per cent alcohol, which she described as dangerously high. She said the agency had directed manufacturers to reduce alcohol content to 30 per cent, a move that was resisted by producers who raised concerns about potential job losses and reduced investment.
Following engagements with stakeholders, Adeyeye noted that the then Minister of Health approved a five-year transition period, running from December 2018 to January 31, 2024, to allow manufacturers adjust their operations.
She reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to protecting public health, stressing that the agency’s regulatory actions are aimed at safeguarding vulnerable populations, particularly children, adolescents, and young adults, from the harmful effects of alcohol consumption.