The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced that it will fully enforce the ban on alcoholic beverages sold in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200ml starting January 1, 2026. The move signals the final phase of a regulatory effort aimed at curbing the widespread abuse of low-cost, high-alcohol-content drinks in Nigeria.
The enforcement date, confirmed by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, comes after years of gradual phase-out and collaboration with industry stakeholders. The agency emphasized that no further extensions will be granted beyond the December 2025 deadline, bringing an end to a process that began with a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2018.
“This ban is not punitive; it is protective. It is aimed at safeguarding the health and future of our children and youth,” Prof. Adeyeye stated, urging all manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply fully with the regulation.
The ban targets only spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small bottles under 200ml, which have been identified as a major contributor to underage drinking, addiction, and social problems. These products, often cheap and easily concealed, have become highly accessible to minors and low-income groups, raising serious public health concerns.
NAFDAC highlighted several pressing reasons for the policy, including the growing cases of alcohol misuse among young people, increased domestic violence, road accidents, school dropouts, and other alcohol-related social vices. The agency insists that the potential economic losses for producers cannot outweigh the lasting harm caused by the unregulated consumption of small-packaged alcohol.
Manufacturers are required to stop producing and distributing the affected beverages before the end of December 2025, while retailers must clear existing stock before the January 2026 enforcement begins.
To ensure compliance, NAFDAC will intensify collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and the National Orientation Agency (NOA). A series of public sensitization campaigns will also be launched nationwide to educate consumers about the dangers of excessive alcohol use and the rationale behind the ban.
As the countdown continues, NAFDAC maintains that the new regulation is a critical step toward protecting public health, especially among Nigeria’s youth.
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