In an important step to prevent alcohol misuse and safeguard public health, the Federal Government has formally prohibited the manufacture, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles less than 200 milliliters.  

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, or NAFDAC, states that the ban will go into full effect on January 1, 2026.

“This public health menace is associated with increased domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social vices,” she added.

Adeyeye emphasized that the prohibition is based on international best practices and scientific data and is protective rather than punitive.  

Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, stated yesterday at a briefing in Abuja that the Federal Government had also authorized the hiring of 1,000 more employees for the organization, beginning in December, in order to bolster its regulatory and enforcement capabilities.  

According to Adeyeye, the ban was implemented in response to a Senate resolution and a Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare directive, which strengthened NAFDAC's responsibility to protect the public's health and shield vulnerable populations—especially children, adolescents, and young adults—from the negative effects of alcohol.

“This decisive action underscores our duty to protect Nigerians from the health and social hazards of unregulated alcohol consumption. Alcohol in sachets and small bottles is cheap, accessible, and easily concealable, making it a major driver of misuse and addiction, especially among minors and commercial drivers,” she stated.

Since early alcohol exposure among teenagers frequently results in substance misuse and criminal behavior, the NAFDAC DG stated that the development of high-alcohol-content drinks in small containers has created both a public health challenge and a national security concern.

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