NAFDAC Confirms Final Ban on Sachet Alcohol, Small Bottles by December

By: Aremu Toyeebaht

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has drawn a firm line under Nigeria’s sachet alcohol debate — announcing that by December 2025, the production and sale of all alcoholic drinks in sachets and bottles under 200ml will be completely banned, with no more extensions.

NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja, stressing that the decision targets the rising abuse of cheap alcoholic drinks among youths and drivers.

“The proliferation of high-alcohol-content beverages in sachets and small containers has made such products easily accessible, affordable, and concealable, leading to widespread misuse and addiction among minors and commercial drivers,”

She said the misuse of these small-sized drinks has been linked to domestic violence, school dropouts, road crashes, and other social ills that have plagued many Nigerian communities.

The agency’s move follows a Senate resolution mandating strict enforcement of the ban by December 2025. Lawmakers, led by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), insisted that no further postponement will be allowed after years of policy delays.

Ekpenyong, who sponsored the motion, expressed frustration that NAFDAC had shifted the deadline multiple times — first from 2023, then 2024, and finally 2025.

“Any further delay would be a betrayal of public trust and a setback to Nigeria’s commitment to health and safety standards,” Adeyeye confirmed that the new directive is final and urged manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to begin full compliance ahead of the enforcement date.

“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth,”