The nationwide clampdown on sachet and small-volume alcoholic drinks has officially begun, with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) insisting the measure is necessary to protect young Nigerians from alcohol abuse.
At a press briefing in Abuja, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the enforcement targets alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles below 200 millilitres, which she described as easily accessible and affordable to minors.
She explained that the restriction followed years of engagement with industry groups, including the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, which were granted a five-year transition period beginning in 2018 to restructure their operations.
According to her, independent research commissioned during the moratorium revealed troubling trends in youth alcohol consumption across the country. The survey, conducted across the six geopolitical zones with about 2,000 respondents, indicates that a significant number of minors purchase alcohol directly from retailers, particularly in sachets and small bottles because of their affordability and ease of concealment.
Adeyeye warned that early exposure to alcohol increases the risk of long-term health complications, including liver and kidney damage, mental health disorders, and impaired brain development. She added that underage drinking is also linked to risky behaviour, poor academic performance and a higher likelihood of progressing to harder substances.
Citing resolutions of the Senate in November 2025, she said lawmakers directed the agency to proceed with strict enforcement without further extensions. The Senate also urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to support the policy and finalise the National Alcohol Control Policy prohibiting alcohol in sachets and small volumes.
The enforcement exercise is being carried out in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Director of Corporate Affairs at FCCPC, Ondaje Ijagwu, said violators would face penalties under existing consumer protection laws, warning that sanctions would be strictly applied.
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