FG Launches Nationwide Crackdown on Sachet Alcohol Ban

The Federal Government on Tuesday formally launched a nationwide enforcement and awareness campaign to implement the ban on sachet alcohol and alcoholic beverages packaged in small-volume containers below 200 millilitres.
The campaign was flagged off in Abuja by the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu, alongside the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, in collaboration with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Officials described the initiative as a decisive step to curb underage drinking and restrict access to cheap, high-strength alcoholic products.
The Federal Government’s ban, which took effect on January 1, 2026, prohibits the production and sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets as well as in PET or glass bottles below 200ml. Authorities say the measure is aimed at protecting children and vulnerable groups from early exposure to alcohol.
Issa-Onilu said the policy represents a firm commitment to public health, noting that sachet alcohol had become widely accessible due to its low cost and portability. He stressed that NOA would deploy its nationwide network — spanning 818 offices and structures across all 774 local government areas — to drive awareness through town hall meetings, schools, markets, motor parks, religious centres and youth groups. The agency will also use traditional media and digital platforms, including its CLHEEAN App, to encourage public reporting of violations.
Prof. Adeyeye cited findings from a 2021 national survey conducted with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, which showed that 54.3% of minors obtain alcohol independently, with nearly half purchasing sachet or small-pack products. In some states, sachet procurement reached as high as 68%.
The study, which surveyed 1,788 respondents across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, also found that 49.9% of minors access alcohol through friends and relatives, 45.9% at social gatherings, and 21.7% from parents’ homes.
While 63.2% of minors reported occasional consumption, the survey indicated concerning levels of daily and binge drinking in parts of Gombe State, the Federal Capital Territory, and Anambra State.
Adeyeye warned that early alcohol consumption increases the risk of addiction by 41% among individuals who begin drinking before age 15. She added that adolescent alcohol use can impair brain development, particularly the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and is associated with depression, risky behaviour, road accidents, poor academic performance and social instability.
According to her, peer influence remains the leading factor driving underage drinking, followed by parental influence, social media exposure and easy access to alcohol outlets.
The crackdown also has legislative backing, following Senate resolutions in November 2025 urging strict enforcement of the ban and closer collaboration between NAFDAC and NOA on nationwide sensitisation.
Both agency heads warned distributors and retailers to comply fully with the directive, describing consumer protection as a matter of national responsibility. They also urged parents, community leaders and citizens to support enforcement efforts by discouraging the circulation of banned products and reporting violations.
The joint campaign, officials said, reflects strengthened coordination among regulatory and public enlightenment agencies to eliminate loopholes that previously enabled sachet alcohol to reach homes, streets and schools.