The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has justified the nationwide ban on sachet and small-pack alcoholic drinks, describing it as the most effective strategy to curb the growing incidence of underage drinking in Nigeria.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja during a press conference to formally announce the commencement of enforcement of the ban.

Adeyeye said the enforcement would be carried out jointly by NAFDAC, the National Orientation Agency, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

She explained that banning alcohol in sachets and small-volume containers, which can be easily concealed, would significantly limit children’s access to alcoholic beverages, noting that alcohol remains one of the most abused substances among young people.

According to her, studies have shown a sharp rise in the availability, production, importation and consumption of alcohol across all age groups in recent decades, with easy access identified as a major driver of increased alcohol use among minors.

Adeyeye recalled that NAFDAC, in collaboration with the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, conducted a nationwide survey in 2021 to assess the extent of alcohol abuse among underage consumers and retailers. The survey sampled 1,788 respondents across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Describing the findings as alarming, she said 54.3 per cent of minors and underage persons obtained alcohol by themselves, while 49.9 per cent patronised retailers selling sachets and small PET bottles. She added that about half of Nigerian children consume alcohol.

The data further revealed that 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underage individuals who purchased alcohol chose sachets because they are easy to hide, a factor Adeyeye described as a major driver of youth alcohol consumption.

“Whether you are a good parent or a bad parent, it doesn’t really matter, because these sachets make it easy for children to conceal alcohol,” she said.

The survey also showed that 63.2 per cent of minors and 54 per cent of underage persons consume alcohol occasionally, compared with 44.3 per cent and 38.3 per cent of adults who drink occasionally and daily, respectively. It found that children as young as nine years old are already consuming alcohol.

Adeyeye disclosed that sachet alcohol sells for as little as ₦50, making it easily affordable for minors. She warned that while some individuals profit from the trade, many children are placing their futures at risk, with potential health consequences such as liver cirrhosis, kidney failure and mental health disorders.

On abuse patterns, she noted that 11.7 per cent of underage children had engaged in binge drinking, with the highest incidence recorded in Gombe State. Overall alcohol consumption was highest in Lagos State and Rivers State.

Adeyeye stressed that the ban is driven by NAFDAC’s statutory responsibility to protect public health, particularly the health and wellbeing of Nigerian children.