Sachet Alcohol Ban: MAN Cautions FG on Economic Impact

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the renewed enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small PET bottles by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), warning that the action threatens jobs, local industries, and government revenues.

MAN, in a statement signed by its Director General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, mni, said it has observed with deep concern NAFDAC’s recent actions, which have disrupted the operations of manufacturers in the wines and spirits sector, despite existing federal directives suspending the implementation of the ban.

According to the association, NAFDAC, within the last two weeks, commenced enforcement of the ban in disregard of a directive issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) on December 15, 2025, which instructed that the prohibition on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles be suspended.
MAN noted that the action also contradicts the resolution of the House of Representatives following a comprehensive public hearing with industry stakeholders. The House, in its resolution dated March 14, 2024 (NAS/10/HR/CT.33/77c), had restrained NAFDAC from imposing the ban and advised against punitive regulatory measures that could harm legitimate businesses.

The association expressed concern that NAFDAC instead relied on a Senate resolution reached without broad stakeholder engagement, a development that has created uncertainty and confusion among operators as to which government directive to obey. MAN disclosed that it has since engaged the Senate and remains hopeful that further consultations will lead to a review of the position.

Explaining the rationale behind sachet and PET-bottled alcoholic beverages, MAN said the products were introduced as an innovation to serve adult consumers with limited purchasing power, offering them lawful choice and access to regulated products. It added that smaller packaging sizes could also help curb excessive consumption often associated with larger quantities.

MAN stressed that locally produced sachet alcohol is manufactured under hygienic conditions and duly certified by regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC itself. The association warned that banning such products could open the market to illicit, sub-standard, and unregulated alcoholic beverages, posing serious health risks to consumers and undermining regulatory control.

Addressing claims that sachet alcohol encourages underage drinking, MAN described such assertions as unsubstantiated, noting that credible, independent empirical studies have disputed the claim. Beyond this, the association said industry operators have invested over ₦1 billion in nationwide campaigns promoting responsible alcohol consumption and discouraging underage access, significantly strengthening compliance across the market.

While reaffirming its support for the removal of unsafe products from circulation, MAN insisted that regulatory actions must be based on verifiable data and evidence rather than emotional arguments or public sentiment. According to the association, poorly conceived policies risk destroying jobs, disrupting livelihoods, and triggering unintended economic consequences.

MAN warned that continued enforcement of the ban would endanger the survival of indigenous manufacturers, lead to job losses across the value chain, encourage smuggling and illicit imports, deprive government of much-needed revenue, and deny adult consumers with low incomes access to affordable, regulated products.

The association, therefore, called on the Federal Government to prevail on NAFDAC to immediately halt the disruption of manufacturers’ activities and comply fully with the directive suspending the ban on the production and sale of alcoholic beverages in sachets and PET bottles.

MAN urges the Federal Government to intervene as NAFDAC enforces the sachet alcohol ban, warning of job losses, revenue decline, and the rise of illicit alcoholic beverages in Nigeria.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria calls on the FG to stop NAFDAC’s enforcement of the sachet alcohol ban, citing risks to jobs, local manufacturers, government revenue, and consumer safety.