NAFDAC insists on ban of sachet alcoholic drinks

Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has firmly reiterated its ban on the sale of small-volume alcoholic drinks, signaling no retreat from the policy. Festus Ukadike, NAFDAC's Zonal Director for the South-east, confirmed in an interview that the agency has already initiated a crackdown on manufacturers and distributors of these drinks.

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If our children are no longer exposed to sachet alcohol, they will live healthier lives, curb antisocial behaviours and promote the country’s fight against cancer and other terminal diseases.

The next phase of the enforcement will involve removing remaining sachet alcoholic products from the market. Ukadike clarified that the ban will not significantly impact businesses, as companies are still permitted to produce alcohol in volumes of 200ml or larger per bottle. Arrests and seizures have already been made across the South-east zone, including Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, and Anambra states.

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Public health considerations outweighed commercial interests.

Ukadike emphasized that protecting children's health is the primary driver behind NAFDAC's decision. He stated that shielding Nigerian children from unhealthy drinking habits is crucial for their well-being, reducing antisocial behaviors, and supporting the nation's fight against cancer and other terminal diseases. He advised consumers to moderate their alcohol intake, suggesting that abstaining from sachet alcohol is not a significant loss.

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The ban should only be introduced in motor parks to prevent highway accidents.

Addressing concerns about affordability, the NAFDAC director asserted that public health considerations take precedence over commercial interests. He projected that within 12 months, Nigeria should see a standardized regulatory environment with no alcohol available in packaging smaller than 200ml. Consumer reactions to the ban have been mixed, with some welcoming it and others arguing it will make alcohol less affordable for low-income individuals. One consumer suggested the ban should be limited to motor parks to prevent accidents, while another noted seeing schoolchildren purchasing and carrying sachet drinks to school.

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I have seen school children buying the sachet drinks, putting it in their school bags, and taking it to school.