NAFDAC Sets December 2025 Deadline to End Sachet Alcohol Sales Nationwide

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confirmed that the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and bottles smaller than 200 millilitres will be completely banned by December 2025.

NAFDAC’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, announced the development during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, explaining that the move aims to curb the rising abuse of cheap, high-alcohol-content drinks among young people and drivers.

She noted that the easy availability and affordability of these small-sized alcoholic beverages had made them a major contributor to addiction, domestic violence, road accidents, and other social vices. “The proliferation of these products has become a public health threat, leading to increased cases of school dropouts, family crises, and reckless driving,” Adeyeye stated.

The announcement follows a Senate directive mandating NAFDAC to enforce the total ban by December 2025 without any further extensions. The resolution stemmed from a motion by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), who criticised the agency’s repeated postponements of the policy despite mounting health and social risks.

Ekpenyong recalled that NAFDAC had initially planned to phase out the products by 2023, later extending the deadline to 2024 and then 2025, a delay he said emboldened manufacturers to continue production. He stressed that any further postponement would undermine public confidence and violate global health standards.

Adeyeye reaffirmed that the decision aligns with scientific evidence and public health priorities, emphasising that the ban is intended to protect—not punish—Nigerians. She urged manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to begin phasing out affected products ahead of the enforcement date.

“This ban is a protective measure designed to safeguard the health and future of our children and youth,” Adeyeye said. “We cannot continue to trade public health for short-term profit. The health of our people is the true wealth of the nation.”