Sachet Alcohol: NAFDAC Steps Up Ban Enforcement

Ayodeji Ake

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified enforcement of the federal government’s ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET/plastic bottles below 200ml, warning manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply or face severe sanctions.

NAFDAC said the enforcement was aimed at completely removing prohibited alcoholic products from the Nigerian market and reducing easy access to highly concentrated alcoholic drinks, particularly among children and young people.

The latest action followed an Irrevocable Enforcement Undertaking signed by Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), and their member companies.

Under the undertaking, affected manufacturers were required to immediately recall all alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml from distributors, warehouses, and other points within the supply chain.

NAFDAC said recalled products will be verified and destroyed under its supervision, with manufacturers bearing the full cost of the destruction.

The agency also said factories involved in producing the prohibited pack sizes will not be allowed to reopen until there was satisfactory evidence that the relevant production lines had been dismantled, permanently disabled, or reconfigured to prevent further production.

The ban, however, did not emerge suddenly.

 According to NAFDAC, concerns over the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content drinks in sachets and small bottles dates back to 2018, when regulators raised concerns about their affordability, portability, and accessibility to minors.

Following consultations involving NAFDAC, Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), DIBAN, and AFBTE, a five-year moratorium was agreed upon in December 2018.

The moratorium gave manufacturers until January 31, 2024 to reconfigure production lines, transition to larger packaging, and phase out sachet alcohol and small-volume containers.

When the deadline expired, NAFDAC commenced enforcement in February 2024.

However, resistance from industry stakeholders and intervention by the National Assembly led to further consultations and an extension of the deadline to December 31, 2025.

The full ban subsequently took effect on January 1, 2026, covering alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets, PET bottles below 200ml, and glass bottles below 200ml.

NAFDAC said the policy was supported by research highlighting the accessibility of such products to minors.

The agency cited findings indicating that 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underage persons who procured alcoholic drinks obtained them in sachets, while 41.2 per cent of minors and 47.2 per cent of underage persons procured them in PET bottles.

In January 2026, NAFDAC commenced its first-tier enforcement, focusing on manufacturers. The agency said prohibited products found within manufacturing facilities were evacuated and destroyed.

By July, the agency escalated the exercise to nationwide mop-up operations across markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars, and distribution centres.

The crackdown resulted in the closure of some factories and the arrest of staff of companies found producing prohibited sachet alcoholic beverages.

NAFDAC said companies that violated its directives will also be required to pay applicable investigative charges and regulatory fees.

It warned that facilities would only be reopened after satisfying a number of conditions, including completing the nationwide recall, paying applicable charges, destroying recalled products under NAFDAC supervision, and passing inspection and certification by the agency.

Companies that fail to comply could face continued closure, placement on NAFDAC’s Regulatory Watchlist, suspension or revocation of product registrations, and criminal prosecution where applicable.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, FAS, said the agency remained committed to protecting public health while working with industry stakeholders to ensure compliance.

NAFDAC stressed that its position was not against alcohol consumption itself but against the proliferation of high-alcohol products in small, inexpensive containers that made them easier for children and young people to access.

The agency urged members of the public to report the manufacture, distribution, or sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml through NAFDAC’s official communication channels or at the nearest NAFDAC office.