The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has proposed to impose a total ban on the production of alcoholic beverages in sachets by 2023/2024.
The director general of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, told NAN in an interview that sachet alcoholic drinks would be phased out by 2023 ending or first week of 2024 when it would no longer exist in the society.
She had earlier expressed worry about the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in sachets and small volume glass and poly-ethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.
She also decried the negative effects of irresponsible alcohol consumption on public health and on the safety and the security of the public.
Adeyeye said with the support of the federal ministry of health, the concern also relates to the fact that alcohol “is also a toxic and psychoactive substance with dependence producing properties.
She said uncontrolled access and availability of high concentration alcohol in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles contributes to substance and alcohol abuse in Nigeria with its negative impact on the society.
The director general said the World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that alcohol consumption contributes to three million deaths each year globally as well as to the disabilities and poor health of millions of people.
Adeyeye said stakeholders had already met on the issue to outline the negative impact of the product on the society, particularly on youths.
“NAFDAC and the federal ministry of health met on this issue with the distillers association, a couple of days ago.
“We let them know that they can think of business because there is nothing wrong about that.
“NAFDAC and federal ministry of heath also have to think about the society, we had series of meetings at the ministry.
“We all agreed that we are going to carry out the ban in phases,” she said.
The director general also said pending the time lag, the distillers association was told to reduce the level of alcohol in sachet drinks and also tasked to run a social responsibility campaign on air against underage drinking.
She called on Nigerians to always do things that would depict the moral values enshrined in the nation’s system.
