FG Bans Sale of Alcohol in Sachets, with NAFDAC set to begin enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcohol in sachets and small bottles in December.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially banned the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles below 200 millilitres, with strict enforcement set to begin in December 2025. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC) announced the directive as part of efforts to address growing public health and social concerns related to the widespread misuse of sachet-packaged alcohol.
This decision follows a Senate resolution that calls for the phase-out of sachet alcohol, which has been criticized for being easily accessible and affordable, leading to abuse especially among minors, teenagers, and commercial drivers. The ban aligns with an earlier Memorandum of Understanding signed in December 2018 between NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission ( FCCPC), and industry bodies such as the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers ( AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria ( DIBAN) to gradually eliminate high-strength alcoholic beverages sold in sachets.
Manufacturers were given a grace period extended to December 2025 to deplete existing stock and transition to safer packaging methods. Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, emphasized that the ban is not punitive but protective, aimed at safeguarding public health and preventing alcohol-related social issues including addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, and school dropouts.
Enforcement will involve collaboration with security agencies, and no further extensions will be allowed. This move is seen as critical to protecting vulnerable populations and promoting healthier drinking habits across Nigeria.
