Nigerian Advocates Push for Dialogue on Alcohol Policy

Consumer advocates in Nigeria are asking regulators to hit pause and talk before enforcing a controversial ban on small-packet alcoholic beverages.

The Coalition for the Protection of Consumers' Rights gathered Monday outside the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control's Lagos office. Led by Olufemi Lawson, the group wants dialogue instead of prohibition.

The agency plans to ban sachet alcohol products, citing concerns about underage drinking and public health. But Lawson argues the enforcement could cost thousands of jobs across Nigeria's distillery industry at a time when the country is already battling unemployment and economic challenges.

The coalition points out that NAFDAC previously tested and approved many of these same products. If minors are buying alcohol, they say, the problem isn't the packaging but rather weak enforcement of existing age restrictions at stores.

"These products are clearly labelled 'not for sale to persons under 18,'" Lawson explained. "If minors still have access, then enforcement at the retail level needs to be strengthened."

Protesters carried signs reading "Regulation, Not Prohibition" and "Save Jobs, Save Livelihoods." They warned that factory workers, distributors, transporters, and small retailers would all feel the impact if production facilities stay shuttered.

The group also challenged environmental concerns about sachet packaging, noting that similar single-use packets are standard for water, detergents, and other everyday products across Nigeria.

The Bright Side

Rather than digging in, both sides still have room to find common ground. The coalition isn't opposing alcohol regulation. They're asking for smarter enforcement that protects both public health and people's livelihoods.

Their proposal focuses on strengthening retail compliance, improving age verification, and using data to guide policy decisions. This approach could address underage drinking concerns while preserving legal businesses that employ thousands of Nigerians.

The protesters have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to facilitate conversations between regulators, industry representatives, and consumer groups. They believe collaborative solutions will work better than top-down bans.

NAFDAC had not responded to the protest at press time, but the door remains open for productive dialogue that serves everyone's interests.