By Victor Owencho
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has begun enforcing the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and plastic bottles below 200 millilitres across the country.
NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye announced the commencement of enforcement during a media briefing in Lagos on Wednesday, confirming that the agency had received a directive from the Senate to proceed with the implementation. “We have already started the enforcement to ban alcohol production in sachets and bottles below 200ml, after we received an order from the Senate to proceed,” Prof. Adeyeye stated.
The ban, originally announced by NAFDAC on November 11, 2025, was designed to restrict access to high-alcohol-content beverages that have become easily accessible to vulnerable populations, particularly children, adolescents, and young adults. The initial enforcement, scheduled for December 2025, was temporarily suspended following a directive from the federal government calling for consultations with stakeholders. With those consultations now concluded, enforcement activities have officially commenced.
Prof. Adeyeye explained that the decision to enforce the ban stems from concerns about the widespread availability of small-format alcoholic products that are affordable, easy to conceal, and increasingly accessible to minors. “NAFDAC is not against alcohol, but we are against the proliferation of high alcohol content in sachets and small bottles to prevent children from having easy access to it,” she emphasized.
The NAFDAC chief revealed that sachet alcohol previously contained between 50 and 90 percent alcohol concentration, which she described as “extremely high.” Following NAFDAC intervention, manufacturers were required to reduce alcohol content to 30 percent. However, manufacturers expressed displeasure with the regulatory changes and approached the then-Minister of Health, citing concerns about potential job losses and the impact on existing investments. In response, they were granted a five-year transition period from December 2018 to January 31, 2024, to restructure their operations and adjust their business models.
With the transition period now expired and Senate approval secured, NAFDAC has moved into active enforcement mode. Prof. Adeyeye reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting public health through its regulatory functions, emphasizing that safeguarding vulnerable groups, especially children, remains a priority. The enforcement action reflects growing national concerns about underage drinking and the need to limit alcohol accessibility among young Nigerians.
