Tag: Sachet Alcohol

The Senate has directed NAFDAC and other relevant regulatory agencies to fully enforce the ban on high-strength alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets starting December 2025. Lawmakers stressed that no further extensions beyond the current moratorium would be granted. The decision followed a motion by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong, urging an end to delays in phasing out sachet-packaged alcohol. In his remarks, Ekpeyong highlighted that NAFDAC, in line with international standards and after consultations with industry stakeholders, had initiated a phased ban on the importation, production, and distribution of alcohol in sachets. He recalled that in 2018, stakeholders including the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), NAFDAC, and industry groups such as the Association of Food, Beverage & Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to gradually phase out these products. The MoU cited concerns over affordability, portability, and accessibility, especially among children, adolescents, commercial drivers, and other vulnerable groups. Although the initial deadline passed, the government granted manufacturers a one-year extension in 2024 to allow them to deplete existing stock and transition to compliant packaging, setting the new phase-out deadline for December 2025. Ekpeyong warned that some manufacturers are lobbying for another extension, a move he said undermines regulatory authority, endangers public health, and disrupts fair competition. He noted that continued production of sachet alcohol contributes to youth addiction, road accidents, school dropouts, domestic violence, and other social problems. The Senate further instructed the Federal Ministry of Health to remove any obstacles preventing NAFDAC from enforcing the ban. Lawmakers also urged the ministry to expedite the release of the National Alcohol Policy, which should explicitly prohibit sachet packaging of high-strength alcohol and promote public awareness campaigns.