The Digest:
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has resumed nationwide enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles under 200ml. Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye stated the move aligns with a Senate resolution and aims to protect youth from harmful alcohol use, citing reports of student dependency. The ban follows a phased agreement with manufacturers signed in 2018, with a deadline initially set for 2024 and later extended to December 2025. NAFDAC clarified that no factories were shut down, but enforcement targets the sale of prohibited packaging.
Key Points
- The enforcement directly impacts low-income consumers who rely on affordable sachet alcohol, potentially altering consumption patterns and access.
- It threatens the revenue streams of manufacturers and retailers specialized in small-format alcohol, risking job losses and reduced market diversity.
- Manufacturers face forced production shifts and stock losses, while NAFDAC asserts its regulatory mandate to prioritize long-term public health.
- The action tests the balance between regulatory authority and economic realities, highlighting tensions between health policy and informal market sustenance.
- Resuming enforcement now follows the expiration of an extended grace period, closing a long-standing debate on compliance and implementation deadlines.
Sources: NAFDAC official statement
