Since the idea of banning alcoholic drinks in sachets and small bottles in Nigeria was first mooted, certain Nigerians have not been comfortable with the idea.
The idea was first mentioned in 2018 but due to the public outcry then, the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and bodies like the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), came together and agreed to sign a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) to gradually phase out sachet and small-bottle alcoholic drinks.
Ever since the proposal to phase out alcoholic drinks in sachets and small bottles surfaced, the implementation timeline has shifted multiple times. Despite this, recent developments have reignited public reactions.
Initially, it was widely believed that manufacturers of these products heavily lobbied the government to stop the policy altogether. While they were unable to halt the idea, their efforts did succeed in delaying full implementation.
However, last week—on Tuesday, November 5—the Senate directed NAFDAC not to grant any further extension beyond the December 31, 2025 deadline for the ban on producing alcohol in sachets and small bottles.
This followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, representing Cross River South. Presenting the motion, he emphasized that the directive aligns with global regulatory standards and international best practices aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm in the country.
He recalled that in 2018, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), NAFDAC, and major industry associations voluntarily signed a five-year agreement to gradually phase out sachet and small-bottle alcoholic beverages.
Ekpenyong further explained that the Federal Government had already granted manufacturers an additional one-year grace period in 2024 to allow them to exhaust existing stock and transition to approved packaging formats. Despite this concession, some producers were still lobbying for another extension—an action he warned could undermine regulatory authority, endanger public health, and perpetuate the circulation of harmful products.
“As the December 2025 deadline approaches, certain manufacturers are lobbying for another extension, thereby undermining the regulatory process and jeopardising public health. We cannot continue to expose our youths to cheap, easily accessible alcohol that destroys lives,” he stated.
He highlighted the rising cases of addiction, impaired cognitive development, domestic violence, school dropouts, and road accidents linked to the consumption of these high-strength alcoholic sachets, especially among young people and commercial drivers.
Ekpenyong added that companies already complying with the regulations were being placed at a competitive disadvantage compared to those still producing non-compliant products.
During deliberations, several lawmakers supported the motion, stressing the need for strong enforcement and robust public sensitisation. Senator Anthony Ani of Ebonyi South described the widespread availability of cheap alcohol as a growing social crisis that must be urgently addressed.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, in his ruling, noted that enforcing the ban is necessary for protecting public health and safeguarding young Nigerians. He urged NAFDAC to ensure strict compliance by December 2025, emphasizing that any further extension would weaken nationwide anti-substance abuse efforts.
Following the Senate’s directive, NAFDAC reaffirmed on Tuesday, November 11, that enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and bottles below 200ml would commence in the coming month. In a statement signed by its Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the agency stressed that the action is backed by the Federal Ministry of Health and aligns with its mandate to protect vulnerable populations, including children and young adults.
Adeyeye pointed out that the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content drinks in small, easily concealed packages has fueled addiction, road accidents, school dropouts, and other social challenges. She clarified that the policy affects only spirit drinks packaged in sachets and small containers below 200ml.
She called on all manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply fully before the December 2025 phase-out deadline, reiterating that no further extensions would be granted.
In 2018, relevant government agencies and industry bodies agreed to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol packaging by January 31, 2024. This timeline was later extended to December 2025 to allow producers to exhaust old stock and adjust production lines. NAFDAC emphasized that the current Senate directive is consistent with that agreement and aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Organization’s global strategy for reducing harmful alcohol use.
While the government, NAFDAC, and public health experts widely support the ban due to its implications for kidney health, blood pressure, and other cardiovascular risks, the policy continues to face strong resistance from manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers.
For many small business owners, the ban poses a threat to their livelihood. Mrs. Bukola Jaiyeloba, a trader in these products, expressed deep concern:
“These people don’t consider the common man at all. The smaller sachets were created so that even those who cannot afford big bottles can still enjoy themselves. With this law, many people will no longer be able to afford these drinks. Some may even turn to drugs, which is a bigger problem. For us in the business, this will shake us greatly. Many may run out of business.”
Consumers also voiced frustration, particularly those in low-income communities. At a popular drinking spot in Mile 2, Lagos, one patron lamented that the government was focusing on the wrong issue.
He questioned why affordable alcoholic drinks were being banned while hard drugs—openly sold and consumed—seemed to receive less enforcement attention. He expressed fears that the policy would deprive many people of a simple pleasure they rely on to cope with daily hardship.
He added that even if the sachets are banned, people would still find alternatives, such as pooling money to buy larger bottles and sharing among themselves.
“The poor will always find a way to survive,” he said. “This policy won’t break us. It will only force us to find new ways to adapt. Life must go on.”
