The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has begun strict nationwide enforcement of the ban on sachet and small-pack alcoholic drinks, calling it the “best solution” to tackle underage drinking.
Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye announced the crackdown at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, noting enforcement will be carried out alongside the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Adeyeye cited studies showing alarming alcohol use among minors – about 50% of children drink, often more than adults, with sachets being popular due to ease of concealment. The 2021 survey across six geopolitical zones revealed 54.3% of minors obtained alcohol themselves, 49.9% purchased from retailers, and children as young as nine were consuming alcoholic beverages. Binge drinking was also reported among 11.7% of underage children, particularly in Gombe, with Lagos and Rivers recording the highest overall consumption.
The NAFDAC DG warned that early alcohol exposure can permanently damage the brain’s memory and learning centers, increase dependence risk by 41%, and often lead to hard drug use, academic decline, and social vices such as banditry and k+dnapping.
She recalled that trade groups had sought repeated delays, but the Senate, in November 2025, instructed immediate enforcement and urged the Federal Ministry of Health to release a national alcohol policy prohibiting alcohol in sachets and bottles under 200ml.
FCCPC spokesperson Ondaje Ijagwu stated offenders would face penalties under existing laws, while NOA’s DG Lanre Onilu described the ban as a public health intervention to protect youth and communities from harmful alcohol consumption.
