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By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has issued a strong warning that the Federal Government’s reversal of the ban on sachet and small-volume alcoholic beverages could roll back years of progress on child protection and public health, exposing minors to easier access and increasing alcohol-related harm nationwide.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Ezeh, the ACPN condemned the decision by the Federal Government of Nigeria to lift restrictions on alcohol packaged below 200ml, describing the move as a “troubling setback” that weakens evidence-based regulation and sends conflicting signals about governance priorities.
Ezeh said the original directive by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control was anchored in harm-reduction and child-protection objectives, following a consultative process with industry. He recalled that in December 2018, NAFDAC, alongside the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, agreed a phased five-year transition to eliminate sachet and sub-200ml alcohol by January 2024—later extended to December 2025 to allow manufacturers adjust operations responsibly.
According to ACPN, the public health case for the ban remains overwhelming. Ezeh cited data linking alcohol misuse to about 29 percent of preventable deaths in Nigeria and nearly half of road traffic accidents, with more than 60,000 alcohol-related deaths recorded in 2016 alone from causes including liver disease, alcohol-induced cancers and fatal crashes.
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He warned that sachet alcohol, because of its low cost, portability and concealability, significantly lowers barriers to access—especially for minors—fueling underage drinking and high-frequency use among vulnerable groups. Field data, he said, show many children independently procure alcohol and prefer sachets and small bottles because they are cheap and easy to hide.
The ACPN chairman accused industry actors of intensifying lobbying efforts that reframe the issue around affordability and “moderated consumption,” arguing that such narratives risk prioritising commercial interests over population health and child welfare. “This reflects an erosion of corporate social responsibility,” Ezeh said, adding that youths are being treated as emerging markets rather than citizens deserving protection.
He cautioned that relying on warning labels and age limits without strong supply-side controls would amount to “hollow compliance,” and linked the policy reversal to broader enforcement gaps that also allow open drug markets and counterfeit medicines to persist—undermining institutional credibility.
“Nigeria is at a critical policy crossroads,” Ezeh said. “When the choice is between safeguarding public health and preserving profit margins, the ethical calculus should be unequivocal.” The statement was made available to CEOAFRICA.
