Enforcement of Total Ban on Alcohol Sachets, Small Bottles to Begin in January 2026 – NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced a December 2025 deadline for the complete ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small glass or PET bottles below 200 millilitres.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said full enforcement of the ban will commence in January 2026, stressing that no further extensions would be granted after several postponements, the last being in December 2024.

Adeyeye explained that the decision, endorsed by the Senate and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare—is aimed at protecting public health and shielding children, adolescents, and young adults from the dangers of alcohol abuse.

According to her, the proliferation of high-alcohol-content drinks in small, cheap, and easily concealable packaging has worsened addiction among young Nigerians and commercial drivers, fuelling social vices such as domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and insecurity.

“This ban is not punitive, it is protective. We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians, especially our children, for short-term economic gain. The health of the nation is its true wealth,” she said.

Adeyeye clarified that the ban applies only to spirit drinks packaged in sachets and bottles under 200ml, urging manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply fully by December 2025, warning that no further extensions would be granted.

She recalled that the plan to phase out small-volume alcohol packaging began in December 2018, when NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and industry stakeholders including the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), signed a five-year agreement to end the practice by January 2024.

“However, the moratorium was extended to December 2025 to give manufacturers time to exhaust old stock and reconfigure production lines,” she said.

READ ALSO: Senate Gives NAFDAC Deadline To End Sachet Alcohol Production

“The new Senate resolution aligns with both the initial agreement and Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol (Resolution WHA63.13, 2010), to which the country is a signatory.”

Responding to industry concerns about job losses, Adeyeye said such arguments pale in comparison to the health and security risks posed by alcohol abuse among youths.

“Job loss was raised in 2018, and we extended the phase-out period to allow adequate planning. How long will we continue to cite job loss while our children are dying and becoming addicts?

“Children drinking alcohol is a ticking time bomb. Research shows that children who become addicted to alcohol are more likely to progress to hard drugs. That poses a national security threat,” she stressed.

On enforcement, the NAFDAC boss said the agency now operates under a stronger regulatory and security framework, supported by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and other law enforcement bodies.

“During our February 9 operation in markets such as Idumota, Aba, and Onitsha, the NSA provided 1,350 personnel who worked with us for several weeks,” she revealed.

Adeyeye also disclosed that the Director of NAFDAC’s Enforcement Directorate now chairs the Federal Task Force on Counterfeit and Substandard Products, recently inaugurated by the Health Minister, with similar task forces established in all 36 states and the FCT.

“Yes, we are short-staffed, but the government is listening. Despite our lean workforce, our officers are doing the work of four or five people each because we must safeguard the health of the nation,” she said.

She added that the government has approved the recruitment of 1,000 new staff to strengthen the agency’s operations.

Adeyeye further assured that NAFDAC will continue working with the Federal Ministry of Health, FCCPC, and the National Orientation Agency to enhance public awareness campaigns on the health and social dangers of alcohol misuse.

“The ban is rooted in science, public health, and national interest. It is about protecting our children, our future workforce, and our nation’s stability. This is a collective responsibility, not just for NAFDAC, but for all Nigerians,” she concluded.