By Nigeria- The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced yesterday that it has resumed enforcement of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles smaller than 200 milliliters.
The action, supported by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, targets the widespread availability of small volume alcohol, which has been linked to underage access, misuse, and social problems including road accidents and school dropouts. NAFDAC emphasized that no alcohol producing company is being shut down, and the restriction applies only to spirit drinks in sachets or small bottles, while larger volume products remain approved for production and sale.
The agency noted that the ban aligns with a previous agreement with industry stakeholders to phase out small volume alcohol packaging, originally set for January 2024 and later extended to December 2025 to allow companies to exhaust existing stock and adjust production lines. The enforcement also supports Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Assembly Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol.
NAFDAC said the move is intended to protect children, adolescents, and young adults from the health and social risks associated with easy access to alcohol.
