Nigerian Government set to phase out sachet alcoholic drinks

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control(NAFDAC) has disclosed that it will totally ban production of alcoholic drink in sachets by 2023/2024 and ensure its completely phase  out.

Penpushing reports that, the Director-General of the Agency, Mojisola Adeyeye, made this known and  that banning of the product will come out in phases, decried the negative effects of irresponsible alcohol consumption on the health, safety and security of the public.

The Director General expressed lamentation over the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in sachets, small volume glass and Poly-Ethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles, adding that 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.”

Penpushing further reports that, Adeyeye noted that uncontrolled access and availability of high concentration alcohol in sachet and small volume PET or glass bottles have been put forward as a factor contributing to substance and alcohol abuse in Nigeria with its negative impact on the society.

The agency boss disclosed that 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.

Penpushing also reports that, Adeyeye explained  that stakeholders had already met on the issues  to outline the negative impact of the product on the society, particularly on youths, stating, “NAFDAC and the Federal Ministry of Heath 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.

Penpushing reports that, she said that pending the time lapse, the distillers association were told to reduce the level of alcoholic drink in sachets, and that they have agreed to do that, adding that the distillers association had also been tasked to run a social responsibility campaign against underage drinking.

The Director General stated that a jingle would soon be on air in this regard and called on Nigerians to always do things that would depict the moral values enshrined in the nation’s system.