NAFDAC Orders Recall of Small-Volume Alcoholic Drinks

The NAFDAC alcohol recall has begun as the Federal Government strengthens enforcement of rules aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm in Nigeria.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) directed manufacturers to recall alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and containers measuring below 200ml.

Manufacturers must also prepare a proper inventory of the affected products and destroy them under NAFDAC’s supervision. The companies will be responsible for covering the cost of the exercise.

The agency said the NAFDAC alcohol recall forms part of efforts to remove prohibited small-volume alcoholic drinks from the Nigerian market and reduce their availability, particularly to young people.

The ban covering the production, importation, distribution and sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and containers below 200ml took full effect on January 1, 2026. The date followed the expiry of a transition period previously given to manufacturers to comply with the regulation.

NAFDAC warned manufacturers, distributors and other businesses that fail to comply with the directive that they could face regulatory sanctions.

The latest enforcement comes as the Federal Government has introduced the Nigeria Alcohol Policy and its Multisectoral Implementation Plan 2026–2030 in Abuja.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare launched the policy as a national framework for tackling harmful alcohol use and regulating different areas of the alcohol sector.

The framework covers aspects of the production, distribution, marketing and consumption of alcoholic beverages, with the wider goal of reducing the health and social consequences linked to excessive and harmful alcohol use.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, was represented at the launch by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom.

Pate said harmful alcohol use, alongside the circulation of illicit and unregulated alcohol products, remained a major public health concern.

He also stressed the importance of cooperation between government agencies, alcohol producers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to ensure that the new policy is implemented effectively.

According to the minister, addressing alcohol-related harm requires action that extends beyond the health sector because harmful alcohol use is connected to several wider health and social challenges.

The Federal Government said implementation of the new Nigeria Alcohol Policy would work alongside stronger enforcement of existing regulations.

The government expects the combined approach to encourage responsible alcohol consumption, reduce alcohol-related harm and safeguard the health and wellbeing of Nigerians.

The NAFDAC alcohol recall therefore represents another step in the government’s efforts to enforce restrictions on small-volume alcoholic products, while the new national policy provides a broader framework for addressing harmful drinking and regulating the alcohol industry.

For manufacturers and distributors, the directive means affected products must be identified, recalled and destroyed under regulatory supervision, with businesses bearing the associated costs.

The measures also signal a stronger focus on protecting young people from easy access to small-volume alcoholic drinks, while strengthening oversight of products considered harmful to public health.

Do you think stronger enforcement of the small-volume alcohol ban will significantly reduce alcohol-related harm among young Nigerians?