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The two most popular questions that are being asked about the sachet alcohol ban in Nigeria are, 'Does it really fix anything?' Or does it make it worse? This is why we compiled this article to unfold how Nigeria's current ways of stopping sachet alcohol sales risk more harm than good. The ban receives backing from a Senate resolution and was announced last year.
The ban was first introduced as part of a phased public health policy aimed at reducing harmful alcohol consumption, especially among young people and vulnerable adults. The regulation directed that a ban must be placed on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small bottles under 200 ml.
However, on January 21, 2026, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced it would start enforcing the ban. Prior to this, members of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) and labour unions were on the streets of NAFDAC's office in Lagos protesting against the ban, calling it a direct threat to jobs and industry growth.
Meanwhile, it's also worth noting that while the environmental and health advocates support the ban, saying it will reduce harmful alcohol misuse among youths and vulnerable groups, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) warns that the ban could jeopardise millions of jobs and trillions of naira in investment.
So why is the government trying so hard to ban sachet alcohol in Nigeria? Is it really unsafe? And if it is, why all the back and forth? But here's my little opinion before unfolding the reality: while the sachet alcohol is well-intentioned by the government, this ban may turn out to be a policy mistake, one that stifles the economy, threatens livelihoods, and disregards practical realities on the ground.
The Government Reasons
Nigeria implemented the “sachetisation” of the economy during the time when inflation had almost eaten deep into people’s pockets. This economy factor gave consumer brands the privilege to make affordable sachet versions of everything, and of course, alcohol was no exception.
In addition to sachetisation, Nigeria signed the United Nations “Resolution WHA63.13” in 2010, a policy that forces member states to reduce harmful alcohol use. The policy is framed around protecting young people and individuals vulnerable to harmful drinking, which the government says is why sachet alcohol has been singled out.
Authorities argue that alcohol sold in sachets is cheap, easy to conceal, and more accessible to minors than bottled alternatives. Supporters of the ban also claim that alcohol being in sachets makes it easier for drivers, especially commercial box drivers such as danfo drivers, to consume alcohol while on duty without noticing the consumption pile-ups.
From this perspective, the government says banning sachet alcohol is presented as a way for Nigeria to align with the UN resolution on reducing harmful alcohol use and to strengthen road safety and public protection. However, it's important to note that the sachet alcohol ban did not come as a sudden decision. Let's unfold the truth here!
As far back as 2018, NAFDAC and the FCCPC reached an agreement with industry groups, including the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, to gradually phase out alcoholic drinks sold in sachets and small PET bottles by January 31, 2024.
Despite this long transition period, manufacturers never slowed down production; instead, the production continued at full scale, and when the deadline arrived, manufacturers appealed for more time to comply. The regulators were so merciful to grant them a fresh deadline window and moved the enforcement date to January 2026. Now, as the new deadline takes effect, they are once again begging for more time and reigniting the debate around compliance and policy certainty.
The Big Problem
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| Member of the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) protesting at NAFDAC’s Lagos office |
Now, manufacturers and workers are fighting hard against the ban. Like I said earlier, before I start unfolding, the ban is well-intentioned but could turn out to be a policy mistake. In fact, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) hate it so much that they even called for the suspension of NAFDAC’s Director General, Moji Adeyeye. They accused her of supporting multinational companies to kill local brands.
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has warned that the ban could wipe out about ₦1.9 trillion in investments and put millions of jobs at risk across the alcoholic beverage value chain. That's to say, it could affect over 500,000 direct workers in production facilities as well as about 5 million indirect employees in distribution, logistics, marketing, and retail.
For an economy still seeking sustained growth, the loss of domestic investment and widespread unemployment could have significant knock-on effects on tax revenue, household income, and consumer spending. But the government thinks it’s worth it. Adeyeye said, “We cannot continue to sacrifice the well-being of Nigerians for short-term economic gain. The health of a nation is its true wealth.”
Even the health professionals are supporting the government. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) point to the link between excessive alcohol consumption and social problems like road accidents and addiction. In February 2024, NARD president Dele Abdullahi said the accessibility of sachet alcohol makes addiction easier. He admitted job losses are scary but insisted health risks are worse.
Several other groups with public health interests have also spoken in support of the ban, including the Coalition for Healthy Food Advocacy (CHFA), the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), and the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
Despite all these warnings, critics have cited that Nigeria already has national alcohol policies that target responsible drinking and that the ban may undermine economic goals when more nuanced regulation could achieve similar public health objectives with fewer disruptions.
So the game becomes millions of jobs and trillions of naira (economy) vs public health and safety.
Notably, Nigeria already has a legal framework to address drunk driving. Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is not a legal activity to perform in Nigeria. It is already a criminal activity (offence) under the Federal Road Safety Commission Act of 2007, in which Section 22 clearly defines the legal limit at 0.05% Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).
This threshold is generally accepted worldwide as the level at which alcohol begins to affect a driver’s judgement and reaction time (impaired). Any individual found guilty of this accusation will face a maximum of two years in prison with the option of a fine.
The law also prescribes stiff consequences, including a possible jail term of up to two years or the option of a fine, showing that Nigeria already has a legal framework to address drunk driving. The bigger challenge, however, is not the absence of laws but weak enforcement. Of course, the laws exist. The real problem is enforcement.
However, when regulations are not properly enforced, they lose their deterrent power and become little more than formal statements. Agencies responsible for enforcing DUI laws are often poorly equipped and lack the resources needed to do their jobs effectively.
So, with that being said, what is your opinion about this debate? Should government policy maintain its stance on banning sachet alcohol or focus on strengthening enforcement of existing laws and providing modern-day equipment to uphold the laws? Kindly drop your opinion in the comment section.
