FOOD, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association has warned that Nigeria’s public health objectives must not be pursued through what it described as inconsistent and economically damaging policies, following the renewed enforcement of the sachet alcohol ban.
In a statement at the weekend, the association criticised the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and ControlNational Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) over its enforcement of a ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and containers below 200ml, saying the approach was disproportionate and disruptive.

While acknowledging the importance of protecting minors and vulnerable groups, the association said the policy failed to address the root causes of alcohol abuse.
“Public healthPublic health challenges require holistic, data-driven, and enforceable solutions, not blanket prohibitions that fail to address root causes,” FOBTOB stated.

The union argued that underage drinking was primarily an enforcement and social issue rather than a packaging issue, saying:“Alcohol abuse among minors is primarily a challenge of effective enforcement, parental responsibility, public education, and social regulation, rather than one of packaging format.”

FOBTOB also challenged NAFDAC’s claim that its actions had not disrupted company operations. The association said there were “reports and documented instances of depots belonging to known businesses being sealed by NAFDAC while enforcing the ban in locations such as Enugu and Abakaliki.” It added that some depots “have remained sealed since January 20, 2026, despite housing a range of products that are not covered by the ban.”