NAFDAC Reaffirms Nationwide Crackdown on Sachet, Small PET Alcohol Despite Protests
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has doubled down on its enforcement of the nationwide prohibition on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles below 200 millilitres, dismissing calls for a reversal of the policy.
The firm stance was restated on Friday in Lagos by NAFDAC’s Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, following a protest by industry-linked groups at the agency’s headquarters in Isolo.
The demonstrators had argued that the ban was harming livelihoods and insisted that children were not the primary consumers of sachet alcohol.
However, Adeyeye maintained that the decision was rooted in public health protection, youth safety and Nigeria’s international obligations, stressing that the agency would not back down unless directed by law.
Sachet alcohol ban rooted in child protection, public safety
Speaking to journalists after meeting representatives of the protesting groups, Adeyeye explained that the sachet alcohol ban was consistent with global public health standards, particularly a 2010 World Health Assembly resolution that urged countries to restrict children’s access to alcohol.
Nigeria, she noted, is one of 183 countries that endorsed the resolution, committing to policies that prevent early exposure to alcohol and curb alcohol-related harm.
According to her, sachet and small PET-packaged alcohol present a unique risk because of their affordability, portability and ease of concealment, making them readily accessible to minors and vulnerable groups.
“Sachet alcohol is cheap, easy to tear open and drink discreetly. That makes it attractive not just to adults but to children and young people, especially in busy environments where monitoring is weak,” Adeyeye said.
She warned that early exposure to alcohol increases the likelihood of substance abuse later in life, adding that the social consequences often extend beyond health concerns.
“When someone is drunk, social disruption occurs. People do things they never imagined they were capable of doing. For young people, once alcohol use starts early, the probability of progressing to drugs is significantly higher,” she stated.
Health risks extend beyond quantity to alcohol concentration
NAFDAC’s chief also addressed what she described as a common misconception among critics of the policy—that the small volume of sachet alcohol makes it harmless.
According to her, the real danger lies in alcohol concentration, not packaging size.
“Some sachet alcohol products contain up to 43 per cent alcohol content. Beer, by comparison, is about six to eight per cent. It is not how much you drink; it is how strong it is,” Adeyeye explained.
She further stressed that children’s bodies are physiologically unprepared to process alcohol, making early consumption particularly dangerous.
“Children are not small adults. Their systems are still developing. When alcohol enters the body early, it causes damage that may not be immediately visible. The long-term consequences include liver disease and an increased risk of cancers,” she said.
Enforcement targets public safety beyond underage drinking
Beyond child health concerns, Adeyeye highlighted broader public safety risks linked to the widespread availability of sachet alcohol, especially among commercial transport operators.
She dismissed claims that sachet alcohol is not commonly consumed by drivers and motorcyclists, insisting that everyday observations contradict such assertions.
“Okada riders take such alcohol. Drivers take it. Passengers see this regularly. Someone can easily tear it open, drink it and continue driving, endangering the lives of others,” she said.
According to her, this pattern contributes to road accidents, violent behaviour and general insecurity, particularly in urban centres and transport corridors.
Long moratorium precedes renewed enforcement
Adeyeye revealed that the sachet alcohol ban was not sudden, noting that manufacturers and distributors had been given ample time to adjust.
She explained that discussions around the policy began years ago, with an initial five-year moratorium granted in 2018 to allow stakeholders to reconfigure their business models. The grace period was later extended by an additional year, ending in December 2025.
“With all honesty, this is not a new policy. Stakeholders were informed. They were given time—five years, plus an extra year. That is more than enough time to plan alternatives,” she said.
She added that enforcement resumed only after consultations with the legislative arm of government, which reportedly agreed that the moratorium had expired.
“The Senate said we should begin enforcement, and that is what we are doing. If the law changes and says we should stop, we will stop. But until then, enforcement continues,” Adeyeye stated.
Industry protests meet regulatory resistance
The renewed enforcement has triggered resistance from some industry groups and unions who argue that the ban threatens jobs across the value chain, from production to distribution.
However, NAFDAC insists that public health considerations must outweigh commercial interests, particularly where children and national safety are concerned.
Adeyeye said the agency remains open to dialogue but would not compromise on the core objective of reducing alcohol-related harm.
“We are not insensitive to economic concerns, but our primary mandate is to protect Nigerians. If a product is harmful in the way it is packaged and distributed, we must act,” she said.
Policy debate reflects wider regulatory shift
Analysts say the sachet alcohol ban reflects a broader regulatory shift in Nigeria toward stricter control of products linked to public health risks, especially those affecting young people.
Similar approaches have been applied to tobacco, opioids and counterfeit pharmaceuticals, with regulators increasingly prioritising preventive measures over reactive enforcement.
For now, NAFDAC appears resolute. As protests continue and industry pressure mounts, the agency’s position remains clear: sachet and small PET alcohol will stay banned unless the National Assembly enacts legislation to overturn the policy.
Until then, enforcement officers are expected to sustain nationwide monitoring, seizures and compliance checks, marking a decisive chapter in Nigeria’s public health regulation.
