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Summary
NAFDAC has clarified that the temporary lifting of the sachet alcohol ban will expire on December 31, 2025, after which full enforcement will begin to protect public health and curb underage drinking.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced that the ban on sachet alcohol will be temporarily lifted until December 31, 2025, after which full enforcement will begin.
This clarification comes in response to public confusion over a recent ministerial directive, which NAFDAC has emphasised is not a permanent reversal but a grace period intended to support the structured implementation of the ban.
NAFDAC, established in 1993 by Decree No. 15, is mandated to regulate and control the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water in Nigeria.
The ban on these products was initially introduced in 2018, following a ministerial directive issued in collaboration with stakeholders, including DIBAN and the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE). Manufacturers were given a phased timeline to halt the production and distribution of the affected item.
Speaking in Abuja, Kenneth Azikiwe, the Director of NAFDAC’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Directorate, stressed the ministerial exemption’s temporary nature.
“There is a ministerial lifting on the ban on sachet alcohol, but it is only temporary and will be reviewed by December 31, 2025. After this date, the full enforcement of the ban will commence,” he stated.
Kenneth Azikiwe explained that the grace period is intended to give manufacturers and regulators time to collaborate and prepare for a more effective implementation strategy.
He also highlighted the agency’s ongoing nationwide sensitisation campaigns, which are designed to educate the public about the health risks of sachet alcohol and the importance of responsible alcohol sales.
Kenneth Azikiwe commended the Distillers and Beverages Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) for its support in NAFDAC’s public education efforts. He reiterated that the agency remains fully committed to phasing out alcohol products in sachets and small PET bottles by the end of 2025.
As the 2025 deadline approaches, NAFDAC urges all stakeholders and members of the public to comply with the regulation, which aims to reduce underage drinking and protect public health.
