The Coalition for Healthy Food Advocacy (CHFA), has applauded the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for beginning full enforcement of Nigeria’s ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and other containers below 200 ml, calling it a major step for public health and child protection.

The measure, which took effect after a five-year phase-out agreed in 2018 with industry and government agencies, targets what health advocates describe as one of the most dangerous forms of cheap, high-strength alcohol available in informal markets.

CHFA, a network of civil society organisations working to advance policies that support a healthy food environment in Nigeria, said sachet alcohol has long posed a disproportionate risk to children, teenagers and low-income communities because it is inexpensive, potent and widely sold without age checks.

CHFA argued that the ban strengthens Nigeria’s broader nutrition and NCD-prevention agenda, noting that alcohol consumption could displace healthier foods, increase cravings for high-salt and high-fat snacks, impair nutrient absorption and worsen glycaemic control.

Experts in the coalition further argued that alcohol contributes to more than 200 diseases and injuries, including liver disease, hypertension, stroke, several cancers and worsened outcomes for diabetes and metabolic disorders.

According to the Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, removing sachet alcohol was vital to reducing early alcohol exposure and lowering the risk of addiction, road crashes, violence and premature death.

He said: “For years, low-income communities have carried the heaviest burden of sachet alcohol harm. This enforcement is a clear message that public health must come before profit. Communities deserve protection from products that fuel addiction, violence and poverty.”

Lead Technical Advisor at the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) and Secretariat Lead for CHFA, Dr. Jerome Mafeni, said “Alcohol is part of our food environment and contributes directly to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases. The removal of sachet alcohol aligns with sodium reduction, Front-of-Pack Labelling and other measures that support healthier diets and prevent hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.”

Beyond health, CHFA said harmful alcohol use inflicts significant economic losses through health-care costs, reduced productivity, injuries and social disruption—far exceeding revenue from its sale. Safeguarding young people from high-risk alcohol products, the group said, is essential to building Nigeria’s human capital.

The coalition noted that the enforcement supports the National Alcohol Policy, aligns with the National Multi-Sectoral Action Plan for NCDs, reinforces food and beverage safety regulations and advances Nigeria’s commitments under the WHO Global Strategy to Reduce the Harmful Use of Alcohol and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

CHFA urged manufacturers, distributors, retailers and market associations to comply fully and called on security agencies and state governments to help prevent the circulation of banned products. It also encouraged ongoing public awareness so communities understand the health benefits of the measure.

“The removal of sachet alcohol is a necessary step toward a healthier, safer and more prosperous Nigeria,” the coalition added.