Retailers Renew Calls for Halt to NAFDAC’s Enforcement of Sachet Alcohol Ban

Retailers and drink sellers in Lagos have intensified calls for the suspension of the enforcement of the ban on sachet and small PET bottle alcoholic drinks below 20cl, alleging that the ongoing crackdown is threatening their livelihoods.

The Lagos State chapter of the Concerned Drink Sellers and Traders Across Nigeria made the demand during a peaceful protest through parts of Lagos, where members accused the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of carrying out aggressive raids and confiscating their merchandise.

The protesters said the enforcement had resulted in significant financial losses, with many traders claiming that their business capital had been wiped out after their unsold products were seized.

According to the retailers, the economic impact has been particularly severe for petty traders and small neighbourhood shops that depend on the daily sales of affordable alcoholic drinks for their income.

They appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly and NAFDAC to reconsider the approach to enforcement, arguing that the sudden clampdown has left many traders with debts and unsold stock they cannot recover.

“Over 90% of the retailers you see here today are on bank loans that they have no idea of how to pay back. Where does the government want them to run to now?” the protesters said.

The association maintained that while it understood the need for regulation, the current enforcement strategy had caused widespread disruption to the livelihoods of traders and their dependants.

One of the protesters, Imeh Iyang, also appealed to NAFDAC, the Federal Government and members of the House of Representatives to consider alternative regulatory measures that would address public health concerns without leaving small-scale retailers in financial distress.

The renewed protest comes amid the broader controversy surrounding the government’s restriction on the sale and distribution of small-size alcoholic beverages, with affected traders continuing to push for a more gradual and economically considerate approach to enforcement.