The Federal Government has declared war on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets, PET, and glass bottles of 200 ml and below. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) announced that it has started enforcing the ban on the importation, manufacture, distribution, sale, and use of these products, effective from February 1, 2024.
The ban is the result of a long-standing agreement between the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and the industry stakeholders, who decided to phase out these products by January 31, 2024.
The decision was based on the negative impact of these products on the health and well-being of Nigerians, especially the under-aged and commercial vehicle drivers and riders.
According to the World Health Organization, children who drink alcohol are more likely to use drugs, get bad grades, suffer injury or death, engage in risky sexual activity, make bad decisions, and have health problems.
Moreover, harmful consumption of alcohol is linked to more than 200 health conditions, including infectious diseases and non-communicable conditions.
The director-general of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, said that the agency did not issue renewal licenses exceeding January 2024 to any manufacturer of the banned products.
She also warned that the agency would take stern measures, including prosecution, against anyone who violates the ban. Also she urged all holders of alcohol in sachets, PET bottles, and glass bottles, as well as other packaging materials of these products, to report to the agency for hand-over and destruction.
She said: “The people who are mostly at risk of the negative effect of consumption of the banned pack sizes of alcoholic beverages are the under-aged and commercial vehicle drivers and riders. The World Health Organization has established that children who drink alcohol are more likely to: use drugs, get bad grades, suffer injury or death, engage in risky sexual activity, make bad decisions and have health problems.
World Health Organization also stated that harmful consumption of alcohol is linked to more than 200 health conditions including infectious diseases (tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS) and non-communicable conditions (liver cirrhosis and different types of cancer).”
The ban is expected to protect the health and safety of Nigerians, as well as promote a culture of responsible drinking in the country.
