NAFDAC warns against underage drinking of sachet, small-bottle alcohol

• MAN has severally urged restraint as NAFDAC renews ban on sachet alcoholic beverages

 

 

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), has highlighted the risks of underage drinking and minors consuming alcoholic beverages sold in small sachets and small PET bottle packaging.

NAFDAC explained that underage drinking can lead to violence and injuries, noting that alcohol is a significant contributor to youth suicides, murders, and car crashes or accidents.

The agency said alcohol also plays a major role in kidnappings, banditry, terrorism, and other harmful activities occurring daily in the country.

It listed the associated dangers, insisting that there is no justification to reverse the ban on the production, sale, and use of sachet alcohol and small PET bottle packs.

During a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, stated that alcohol is one of the most commonly used substances by young people and is becoming an increasingly serious public health issue in Nigeria.

She said that easy availability and accessibility of alcohol have contributed to more teenagers drinking.

Prof. Adeyeye cited findings showing that 54.3% of minors and underage individuals obtain alcohol on their own from various sources, while 49.9% purchase it from stores selling drinks in sachets and PET bottles.

She noted that smaller percentages of underage individuals obtain alcohol from liquor stores (15.4%), restaurants (12.6%), and supermarkets (7.9%). The results also show that young people under the legal drinking age acquire alcohol from friends and family (49.9%) and at parties or social events (45.9%).

Among those who purchase alcohol for themselves, 47.2% of minors and 48.8% of underage individuals buy drinks in sachets, 41.2% of minors and 47.2% of underage individuals buy drinks in plastic bottles, and 27.6% of underage individuals buy alcohol in glass bottles.

She added that the purchase of drinks in sachets and PET bottles was most commonly reported in Rivers (68.0% and 64.5%), Lagos (52.3% and 47.7%), and Kaduna (38.6% and 28.4%) states, compared to other states.

“The percentage of drinks bought in sachets is higher among males (51.4%) than females (41.5%), and more common in rural areas (50.1%) than in urban areas (45.3%),” she added.

Prof. Adeyeye also said that most young people and underage individuals (54.3%) buy alcohol on their own, 49.9% get it from friends or family, 45.9% get it at social events, and 21.7% obtain it from their parents’ homes.

She emphasized: “Of the minors and underage individuals who get alcohol for themselves, 47.2% of minors and 48.8% of underage people get it in sachets, 41.2% of minors and 47.2% of underage people get it in PET bottles, and 27.6% of underage people get it in glass bottles.”

She explained that “drinking alcohol before the age of 21 can harm health and may damage parts of the brain, such as the hippocampus, responsible for memory, and the prefrontal cortex, which helps with thinking and impulse control.

“This can lead to long-term problems with learning, memory, and decision-making. Early drinking can also damage the liver and kidneys, cause high blood pressure, disrupt hormone levels and growth, and increase the risk of cancer later in life. It also raises the likelihood of depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Youth who start drinking before age 15 are 41% more likely to develop alcohol dependence.

“Alcohol contributes significantly to youth suicides, violent deaths, and road accidents. It is also closely associated with unprotected sex, leading to unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Drinking frequently affects academic performance, causing lower grades, absenteeism, and impaired cognitive function.”

NAFDAC stated that the Senate has directed it not to grant any further extensions to the current moratorium and to strictly enforce the ban on sachet alcohol and alcohol in small (<200 ml) PET bottles. The agency also urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to support enforcement of the ban.

“They also urge the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to release the National Alcohol Policy, which includes a ban on alcohol in sachets and small-volume (<200 ml) packaging,” the DG added.

“The Senate further urged the National Orientation Agency and NAFDAC to work together to increase nationwide awareness about the dangers of drinking alcohol from sachets and small bottles. Banning small pack sizes, like sachets and bottles under 200 ml, could help reduce underage drinking.”

Gentechnews observed that this issue of ban on the production, sale, and use of sachet alcohol and small PET bottle packs has lingered for too long as the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation has severally urged NAFDAC to suspend the ban.

On its part, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) stated in a statement that it has observed, in recent times, the activities of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) regarding the disruption of the businesses of their members in the Wines and Spirits sector.

A statement signed by Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni, Director General, specifically, noted the association discovered that NAFDAC has, in the last two weeks, gone ahead to implement the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small PET bottles in flagrant disobedience of the directives from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the matter, as issued on 15th December 2025.

The MAN DG statement read: “The recent action of NAFDAC is also in direct contradiction of the earlier resolution of the House of Representatives on the matter (vide NAS /10/HR/CT.33/77c of 14th March 2024); wherein the House of Representatives, after an all-inclusive consultation with stakeholders through a Public Hearing, restrained NAFDAC from taking the needless punitive action of banning the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles. Rather than abiding by the generally agreed resolution, NAFDAC bided its time and chose to rely on a resolution of the Senate that was devoid of the usual stakeholders’ engagement. We have since approached the Senate, and we trust that the Distinguished members will reconsider after further consultations. This is particularly concerning as operators are now confused as to which directive to follow in the face of multiple directives.

“It is important to reemphasize at this juncture that the advent of the sale of alcohol in sachets and PET bottles was not intended to have a negative impact on Nigerians. Rather, it was an innovation to serve the segment of the adult population with low budgets who desire the product and should have a right of choice. The ban would, therefore, deny them the opportunity to exercise that right. In addition, and on the positive side, availability in small portions could also discourage abuse associated with bigger portions.

“Equally important to note is that alcohol served in sachets by local producers is produced under hygienic conditions and certified by our regulatory agencies, which include NAFDAC.

“To ban such products would open the floodgates of illicit and unwholesome substances that are not subject to regulation, are dangerous to health, and are beyond the control of the relevant regulatory agencies.

“We would like to further place on record that the untested assertion of abuse by minors as the basis for the ban has been controverted by credible and empirical research that was independently conducted. The industry, on its own, has even gone further, notwithstanding the report of the survey, to initiate a series of campaigns in respect of responsible alcohol consumption to discourage underage abuse. This has so far cost the operators over a billion Naira in advertisements at all levels of media outreach across the federation. This has been very impactful in discouraging abuse by underage persons and has deepened the access restriction landscape.

“MAN has always supported measures that remove unsafe products from the market. We have only maintained that such decisions should be supported by empirical facts and not emotional persuasions or appeals to public sentiments. To succumb to these scenarios is a costly mistake, as it compromises jobs and livelihoods and activates other unintended consequences. MAN, therefore, recommits to working closely with our members engaged in the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles, as well as NAFDAC and other agencies of Government, to adhere to all regulations and abide by all standards.

“We caution that this unnecessary action of NAFDAC is detrimental to the survival of the concerned indigenous industrial operators. This is worrisome as it comes at the expense of the jobs and livelihoods of workers and all those involved in the value chain. It is counterproductive as it will open up the market for illicit, sub-standard, and unregulated products. It will lead to an influx of imported alternatives, mostly smuggled. It will deny the Government of revenues collectable from the companies. It will deny adult consumers with low budgets access to the products. The overall effect is that the economy and livelihoods will be negatively impacted.

“We, therefore, appeal to the Federal Government to prevail on NAFDAC to stop the disruption of our members’ activities and abide by the directive to suspend the implementation of the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles.”

It appears that the Senate has backed down to support NAFDAC, even when the DG of NAFDAC is calling on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to release the National Alcohol Policy, which includes a ban on alcohol in sachets and small-volume (<200 ml) packaging during her press briefing.

Industry watchers are of the brief that there are still challenges despite the enforcement actions, adding that such challenges exist regarding the illicit “ogogoro” (locally brewed gin) industry and those who carry out illicit brewery of such drinks before now.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has noted that the ban of such products would open the floodgates of illicit and unwholesome substances that are not subject to regulation, are dangerous to health, and are beyond the control of the relevant regulatory agencies, among others.