NAFDAC Begins Enforcement of Sachet Alcohol Ban Over Rising Underage Consumption

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, has announced the commencement of enforcement of the ban on the sale of alcohol in sachets and small-volume bottles.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Adeyeye said the enforcement drive would be carried out in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission(FCCPC).

She explained that restricting alcohol packaged in sachets and small PET bottles — which can easily be concealed — would significantly limit children’s access to alcoholic drinks. According to her, alcohol remains one of the most commonly abused substances among young people.

Adeyeye referenced previous studies showing a sharp rise in alcohol production, importation, availability, and consumption across all age groups in recent decades. She noted that easy accessibility has been identified as a key factor driving increased alcohol use among minors.

She recalled that in 2021, NAFDAC partnered with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) to conduct a nationwide survey assessing alcohol abuse among underage consumers and retailers. The research sampled 1,788 respondents across the six geopolitical zones.

Describing the results as alarming, Adeyeye revealed that 54.3 per cent of minors and underage individuals obtained alcohol themselves from various sources, while 49.9 per cent purchased from retailers selling sachets and PET bottles.

She further disclosed that nearly half of children surveyed consume alcohol. Among those who bought alcohol personally, 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underage individuals preferred sachets due to their ease of concealment.

“Whether you are a good parent or a bad parent, it doesn’t really matter,” she said, stressing that the packaging makes it simple for children to hide alcohol from guardians.

The survey also found that 63.2 per cent of minors and 54 per cent of underage persons drink alcohol occasionally. Additionally, 9.3 per cent of minors and 25.2 per cent of underage individuals consume alcohol regularly, while 11.3 per cent of minors and 9.4 per cent of underage persons drink at least once a week. Alarmingly, the study revealed that children as young as nine years old consume alcohol.

Adeyeye noted that sachet alcohol, often sold for as little as N50, makes it affordable and accessible to minors. She warned that beyond short-term profits for sellers, the long-term health risks for children include liver cirrhosis, kidney failure, and mental health complications.

On abuse patterns, about 11.7 per cent of underage children admitted to binge drinking, with the highest incidence recorded in Gombe State. Overall alcohol consumption was highest in Lagos and Rivers states.

Adeyeye emphasized that the enforcement action aligns with NAFDAC’s statutory mandate to safeguard public health, particularly the wellbeing of children.