The Federal Government on Tuesday formally commenced a nationwide enforcement and public awareness campaign on the prohibition of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small PET and glass bottles below 200 millilitres.
The joint press briefing, held in Abuja, was organised by the National Orientation Agency in collaboration with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
The ban, which took effect on 1 January 2026, covers the production, distribution and sale of alcohol in sachets and bottles smaller than 200ml. The measure forms part of efforts to curb underage drinking and harmful consumption patterns.
Years of Consultation Preceded Enforcement
Speaking at the briefing, NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, said enforcement followed years of consultations, extensions and troubling survey findings regarding alcohol consumption among minors.
“We are here to ensure that the ban on sachet alcohol and alcohol in small bottles less than 200 ml is enforced across all age groups in Nigeria.
“The availability and easy access to alcohol have been identified as a contributory factor to the increasing alcohol consumption among minors,” she said.
Adeyeye explained that discussions on regulating high-concentration alcohol in sachets date back to 2018, when industry associations raised concerns about the potential impact on their businesses. She noted that the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria and the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees had approached NAFDAC through the Ministry of Health.
She recalled that the former Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, granted the groups a five-year moratorium in 2019 to restructure their operations. The grace period expired in February 2024, prompting NAFDAC to begin enforcement in line with its statutory mandate.
“In 2024, February 1, five years later, we started enforcement because our mandate is to regulate and control the manufacturing, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale, and use of self-regulated products.
“They resisted us and took us to the committee on NAFDAC at the National Assembly, which told us to suspend what we were doing,” she said.
Further delays followed until December 2024, when the current Minister of Health, Muhammad Pate, granted an additional one-year extension. The Senate subsequently directed the agency to resume full enforcement.
Survey Findings on Underage Drinking
Adeyeye disclosed that national surveys assessing the impact of sachet alcohol on minors provided a strong basis for renewed enforcement.
“The results were damning. It was found that 54.3 per cent of minors and underage individuals obtain alcohol by themselves from various sources.
“About 49.9 per cent of them patronise retailers of drinks sold in sachet packs and PET bottles. Approximately 50 per cent of our children drink alcohol. Of those who procure drinks for themselves, 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underage individuals obtain drinks in sachets because they are easy to conceal.
“Whether you are a good parent or a bad parent, it doesn’t really matter. These sachets are easy to conceal, and that is what NAFDAC has banned,” she said.
She added that children as young as nine were found to consume alcohol, with binge drinking reported in several states.
Health and Social Risks Highlighted
Adeyeye warned of the serious health implications of underage drinking.
“Alcohol can damage the hippocampus, the memory centre in the brain, and the prefrontal cortex, leading to permanent issues with learning, memory, and impulse control.
“Binge drinking is common, risking alcohol poisoning which can cause fatal shutdowns of breathing and heart rate. Youth who begin drinking before age 15 are 41 per cent more likely to become dependent on alcohol.
“The study also shows that they may graduate to using cocaine and other narcotics,” she said.
She linked alcohol abuse to broader social problems, stating: “In our country, it is responsible for banditry. It is responsible for kidnapping. You cannot be in your right mind and point a gun at somebody. It starts with alcohol and then goes on to hard drugs.”
Concluding, she emphasised that restricting access to small, concealable pack sizes would limit children’s exposure to alcohol.
“A ban on small pack sizes can reduce the menace of underage drinking. Consumption of alcohol should raise alarm for parents, teachers, religious leaders, and the community at large.”
NOA to Drive Nationwide Awareness
In his remarks, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Lanre Issa-Onilu, described the campaign as a collective effort to safeguard Nigerians.
“Today, we are taking a united stand for the health, safety, and protection of Nigerian consumers. For too long, sachet alcohol has been dangerously accessible.
“It is inexpensive, portable, and easy to conceal. In many rural and semi-urban communities, it became easier for a young person to obtain high-strength alcohol than to access proper guidance and protection. When affordability meets vulnerability, the consequences are profound,” he said.
Issa-Onilu noted that the agency would deploy its 818 offices across all 774 local government areas to promote awareness and compliance.
“Let it be clearly stated: consumer protection is public protection. Market responsibility is national responsibility. When products undermine health and safety, the government must act in the interest of the people.
“No nation prospers when its youth are caught in cycles of preventable addiction. No society advances when harmful practices become normalised,” he said.
He urged parents, community leaders, retailers and distributors to comply fully with the policy and support enforcement efforts.
“Together, through awareness, compliance, and collective vigilance, we can build a healthier, safer, and more responsible nation,” he added.