The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has explained that its enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages sold in sachets and in PET or glass bottles below 200ml is driven by public health concerns, especially the need to protect children. In a video shared on its X handle on Tuesday, the agency’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the policy is not targeted at adults but aims to prevent minors from early exposure to high-concentration alcohol.
Adeyeye noted that sachet alcohol often contains dangerously high alcohol levels, sometimes as much as 43 per cent, far above that of beer. She warned that children’s bodies are not equipped to handle alcohol and that early exposure can cause lasting damage to developing organs. “Children are not small adults. Their physiological systems are still growing and cannot process alcohol safely,” she said.
She explained that the ban followed years of consultations, beginning in 2017, and a five-year moratorium agreed with stakeholders in 2018 to allow manufacturers adjust their business models. Enforcement began in February 2024 but was later extended to December 2025 after further consultations. Adeyeye stressed that the policy aligns with global best practices and international commitments to make alcohol inaccessible to children.
