The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has officially banned the production and sale of alcoholic drinks packaged in sachets and small bottles below 200ml.
The agency’s Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, announced the decision during a press briefing held in Abuja on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. She explained that the ban will take full effect from December 2025, with enforcement beginning in January 2026.
According to Prof. Adeyeye, the decision was taken to curb the growing misuse of cheap, high-alcohol-content beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles, which have become easily accessible to minors and commercial drivers. She described these products as a major public health risk, linking them to domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social problems.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective,” she said. “It is meant to safeguard the health and future of our children and youth. We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians for short-term economic gains. The health of a nation is its true wealth.”
The NAFDAC boss noted that the Senate recently passed a resolution reinforcing the ban due to growing concerns about underage drinking and alcohol abuse. She added that the agency had earlier reached an agreement with industry stakeholders to phase out the production of such alcoholic beverages.
In December 2018, NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN). The agreement gave manufacturers a five-year period to phase out small-packaged alcohol by January 2024, which was later extended to December 2025.
Adeyeye stressed that there will be no further extensions and urged manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply fully before the final deadline. She added that NAFDAC will work with security agencies to ensure the strict enforcement of the ban from January 2026.
The agency also reaffirmed its commitment to public awareness campaigns, working with the Federal Ministry of Health, the FCCPC, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to educate Nigerians on the dangers of alcohol misuse.
NAFDAC emphasized that the regulation applies specifically to spirit drinks in sachets and small plastic or glass bottles under 200ml, reaffirming that the goal is to protect public health and reduce the harmful use of alcohol in Nigeria.
