NAFDAC Intensifies Crackdown On Banned Sachet Alcohol, Orders Nationwide Recall

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced full enforcement of the federal government-approved ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET/plastic bottles below 200ml, warning manufacturers and distributors that violations will attract severe regulatory sanctions.

The agency said the enforcement followed the signing of an Irrevocable Enforcement Undertaking by the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), and their member companies, committing them to eliminate prohibited alcoholic products from the Nigerian market.

Speaking during a press briefing on Monday in Lagos, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the measure was aimed at protecting public health, particularly children and young persons who are vulnerable to harmful alcohol consumption.

She explained that the ban was not an abrupt decision but the outcome of years of consultations between regulators, manufacturers and government agencies over concerns about the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content drinks in small, affordable and easily accessible packages.

According to the agency, concerns were first raised in 2018 when regulators observed that alcoholic drinks in sachets and small bottles were cheap, easy to conceal and readily accessible to minors.

The discussions involved NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), DIBAN and AFBTE.

Following engagements with industry stakeholders, NAFDAC said a five-year moratorium was granted in 2019 to allow manufacturers to adjust their production lines, move to larger packaging formats and gradually phase out sachet alcohol and small-volume containers.

The initial deadline expired on January 31, 2024, after which NAFDAC began enforcement. However, following interventions and further consultations, the Federal Government extended the transition period until December 31, 2025.

The ban officially took effect on January 1, 2026, covering alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets, PET bottles below 200ml and glass bottles below 200ml.

NAFDAC said independent research supporting the policy showed the dangers of underage access to alcohol, revealing that 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underage drinkers procured alcoholic beverages in sachets, while 41.2 per cent of minors and 47.2 per cent of underage drinkers obtained them in PET bottles.

The agency said enforcement commenced with manufacturers in January 2026, following legislative backing from the Senate. During the first phase, any prohibited alcoholic products found within production facilities were evacuated and destroyed.

NAFDAC later launched a nationwide mop-up exercise in July 2026 targeting markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars, distribution centres and warehouses.

The agency disclosed that some prohibited products were still found at distribution centres despite the ban, leading to the closure of facilities and arrests of personnel involved in the continued production of sachet alcohol and sub-200ml PET alcoholic beverages.

As part of the enforcement undertaking, affected manufacturers have been directed to immediately commence nationwide recall of all prohibited products from distributors, warehouses and other points within the supply chain.

NAFDAC said recalled products would undergo inventory verification and destruction under its supervision, with manufacturers bearing the cost of the exercise.

The agency also stated that sealed factories would only be reopened after manufacturers provide evidence that production lines used for prohibited package sizes have been dismantled, permanently disabled or reconfigured to prevent further production.

Other conditions for reopening include full compliance with recall directives, payment of applicable investigative charges and regulatory fees, successful destruction of recalled products, and certification by NAFDAC that facilities meet regulatory requirements.

Companies that fail to comply, the agency warned, risk continued closure of facilities, placement on NAFDAC’s Regulatory Watchlist, suspension or revocation of product registrations, and possible criminal prosecution.

NAFDAC maintained that the policy was not a ban on alcohol consumption but a public health intervention designed to reduce easy access to highly concentrated alcoholic products among vulnerable groups.

The agency urged members of the public to report the manufacture, sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml through its official communication channels or nearest NAFDAC office.