Sachet alcohol reversal endangers public health, exposes children – ACPN

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has faulted the decision by the Federal Government of Nigeria to reverse the ban on the production and retail sale of alcoholic drinks in sachets and containers below 200ml.

The group warned that the policy reversal could worsen public health risks and further expose children to alcohol abuse across the country.

In a statement, ACPN national chairman, Ambrose Ezeh, described the policy reversal as a major setback for health regulation and child protection, stressing that the earlier directive was grounded in evidence-based harm-reduction strategies.

The ban was initially introduced by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) following a 2018 Memorandum of Understanding with industry players to phase out sachet and small-volume alcohol by January 31, 2024. 

The deadline was later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers adjust production and exhaust existing stock.

Ezeh said the policy was widely consultative and designed to protect public health, noting that alcohol misuse accounts for about 29 per cent of preventable deaths in Nigeria and is linked to nearly half of road traffic accidents. 

He added that more than 60,000 alcohol-related deaths were recorded in 2016 from causes such as liver disease, alcohol-induced cancers and fatal crashes.

According to him, cheap, small-volume alcohol products, especially sachets, have made alcohol easily accessible, affordable and concealable, encouraging underage drinking and frequent consumption among vulnerable groups. 

Field data, he said, shows many minors independently purchase alcohol, with a preference for sachets due to their low cost and portability.

The ACPN boss warned that growing industry lobbying framed around affordability and “moderate consumption” risks placing commercial interests above public health and child welfare. 

He described the trend as a weakening of corporate social responsibility, where young people are increasingly seen as market targets rather than protected citizens.

“The ban on sachet alcohol is not a symbolic exercise but a clear statement that Nigeria will not sacrifice the health and future of its children for short-term economic gains,” Ezeh said, noting that the long-term social and economic costs of alcohol misuse far outweigh any temporary industry benefits.

He stressed that the small packaging format encourages concealment and access by minors, warning that reliance on warning labels and age restrictions alone, without strict supply controls, would have little real impact.

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Ezeh also linked the reversal to broader regulatory weaknesses, including the persistent challenge of eliminating open drug markets and counterfeit medicines, which he said undermines public confidence in health authorities.

He added, “Nigeria stands at a critical policy crossroads. When the choice is between public health and profit, protecting children, strengthening regulatory governance and upholding evidence-based policy must remain the priority.”