Nigeria group says 500,000 workers threatened as sachet alcohol ban moves forward

The organisation criticised the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), following a Senate directive instructing the agency to fully implement the ban by December 31, 2025.

The directive, the group said, is hasty and “undemocratic,” according to Sunday Attah, convener of Stand Up Nigeria, speaking at a press briefing in Garki, Abuja, on November 12, 2025.

Attah said, “We read with rude shock that NAFDAC purportedly placed a ban on the production, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small-volume PET or glass bottles below 200ml.”

He described the Senate’s action as executed “without hearing from the second party,” noting that ongoing consultations in the House of Representatives were overlooked.

Economic Implications of the Sachet Alcohol Ban

Stand Up Nigeria warned that enforcing the ban could disrupt over ₦1.9 trillion in investments by indigenous beverage companies.

The organisation said more than 500,000 direct jobs and an estimated five million indirect jobs in logistics, marketing, and contractual services could be lost.

“This measure threatens local entrepreneurship and manufacturing capacity, which has been gradually recovering in recent economic indices,” Attah said.

Industry analysts have expressed concern that the ban may push consumers toward unregulated or smuggled alcoholic products, potentially increasing public safety risks.

In addition, small-scale retailers and informal vendors rely heavily on sachet alcohol sales for income, particularly in peri-urban and rural communities.

NAFDAC Response and Public Health Rationale

NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, said the ban aligns with national public health goals, aimed at reducing alcohol abuse, especially among youth.

“Our decision follows the Senate’s instruction to fully implement the restriction, as cheap and widely available sachet alcohol contributes to early-age consumption,” Adeyeye said.

NAFDAC cited studies linking easy access to low-volume alcoholic products with increased health and safety risks, particularly in vulnerable demographic groups.

The agency said enforcement is consistent with international standards for protecting public health, while also emphasising regulatory oversight of production and distribution channels.

The debate over sachet alcohol follows previous interventions in Nigeria, including the destruction of counterfeit and expired beverages valued at over ₦20 billion in Ibadan in 2022.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has previously urged the government to reconsider outright bans, citing potential economic dislocations and job losses.

Internationally, countries such as Kenya and India have restricted the sale of inexpensive small-volume alcohol to mitigate public health risks, while South Africa has relied on licensing and advertising regulations rather than outright prohibition.

Experts note that Nigeria’s informal and semi-formal markets are uniquely sensitive to sudden regulatory shifts, which may affect household income and consumption patterns.

Calls for Stakeholder Engagement and Policy Review

Stand Up Nigeria urged the Federal Minister of Health, Ali Pate, to review and endorse the draft National Alcohol Policy, which provides a multi-sectoral framework balancing public health with industrial sustainability.

“The Senate should act with dignity, fairness, and respect for all Nigerians and allow stakeholders’ consultation through hearings or focus meetings,” Attah said.

The organisation recommended that legislators consult beverage unions, small-scale retailers, and manufacturers before full enforcement of the ban.

Stand Up Nigeria also called for phased approaches, age verification systems, and licensing enforcement as alternatives to immediate prohibition, noting global examples of successful harm reduction.

Socioeconomic Consequences and Public Sentiment

Workers in the beverage sector expressed concern about potential layoffs, production shutdowns, and disruptions to income sources for millions of families.

Retailers highlighted that sachet alcohol is an affordable choice for consumers with limited purchasing power, and sudden removal from the market may exacerbate economic hardship.

Some stakeholders warned that local production declines could result in increased importation of illicit alcoholic products, further undermining public safety and tax revenue.

Economic analysts have projected that regulatory unpredictability may discourage investment in Nigeria’s beverage industry, which has been showing gradual recovery over the last three fiscal quarters.

The group called on the Nigerian Senate to revisit the matter and implement evidence-based consultations, aligning with constitutional guarantees for economic participation.

NAFDAC has indicated it will proceed with enforcement in line with Senate instructions, while civil society organisations continue to advocate for a balanced policy framework.

Regional comparisons suggest that Nigeria could adopt a hybrid regulatory approach, including phased restrictions, licensing, and public awareness campaigns, to mitigate potential economic fallout.

“We urge all parties to consider both the public health imperatives and the economic realities facing millions of Nigerians,” Attah concluded.