The Federal Government has officially prohibited the production, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and bottles smaller than 200 millilitres, in a move aimed at curbing alcohol abuse and safeguarding public health.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC announced that full enforcement of the ban will commence on January 1, 2026. The agency will also recruit 1,000 additional personnel starting December 2025 to strengthen regulatory and enforcement capacity.
At a press briefing in Abuja, NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, explained that the ban follows a Senate resolution and directives from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. She said the action targets the harmful effects of alcohol on vulnerable populations, particularly children, adolescents, and young adults.
The ban specifically applies to spirit drinks in sachets and small PET or glass bottles under 200ml and does not cover all alcoholic beverages. Adeyeye noted that previous agreements with industry groups, including the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, had targeted the phase-out of such packaging by January 2024, later extended to December 2025 to allow adjustment by producers.
She emphasized that the decision aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol and urged full compliance from manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, warning that no further extensions will be granted.
