NAFDAC to enforce nationwide ban on sachet, small-bottle alcohol production by 2026 

NIGERIA – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has directed a total ban on the production, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small-volume containers below 200ml, effective December 2025. 

Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers have been instructed to comply fully with the regulation, with NAFDAC confirming that no further extensions will be granted beyond the deadline. 

The directive follows a resolution by the Nigerian Senate mandating NAFDAC to enforce the ban as part of efforts to protect public health and curb underage drinking. The move targets the easy accessibility of cheap, high-alcohol-content beverages among children, adolescents, and young adults. 

NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, explained that small-sized alcohol packaging contributes significantly to alcohol misuse, addiction, road accidents, domestic violence, and other social issues. 

“The availability of high-alcohol-content drinks in sachets and small bottles makes them cheap, accessible, and easy to conceal,” Adeyeye stated. “Children exposed to alcohol at an early age are more likely to progress to hard drugs, which has long-term implications on workforce productivity and national security.” 

The DG noted that the decision builds on a 2018 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and industry groups, including the Association of Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN).  

The MoU had initially set January 2024 as the phase-out deadline before it was extended to December 2025 to allow producers to adjust operations. 

Adeyeye emphasized that the ban is a protective measure grounded in public health evidence, targeting only spirit drinks packaged in sachets and bottles below 200ml. 

NAFDAC plans to work with the Federal Ministry of Health, FCCPC, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to launch nationwide sensitization campaigns on the risks of alcohol misuse and promote safer consumption practices. 

The enforcement decision followed a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), who urged lawmakers to ensure strict compliance. He warned that repeated delays in enforcement would undermine public confidence and Nigeria’s health commitments. 

Meanwhile, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has raised objections, warning that the directive could result in over ₦1.9 trillion in investment losses and the retrenchment of more than 500,000 workers. 

MAN Director-General Segun Ajayi-Kadir stated that discussions on the policy had been addressed by a stakeholder committee that reviewed and validated the National Alcohol Policy in October 2025, emphasizing that the industry had expected a more gradual transition. 

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