The Sachet Alcohol Ban Could Be a Policy Mistake for Nigeria
This article unfolds how Nigeria's current ways of stopping the selling of sachet alcohol risk more harm than good.
Anonymous
The Sachet Alcohol Ban Could Be a Policy Mistake for Nigeria
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 Lago…
