Reps urge NAFDAC to lift ban on production, sale of sachet alcoholic drinks

The House of Representatives has asked the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to immediately lift the ban placed on the production and sale of sachet alcoholic drinks and 200ML pet bottles.

The House said the ban should be lifted immediately because the timing was inappropriate given the fact that the economy was struggling, staggering unemployment, soaring inflation, while the poverty level is on the increase with paucity of forex to do business.

The resolution was sequel to the consideration of the report of the House Committee overseeing the activities of NAFDAC which investigated the ban.

According to the green chamber of the National Assembly, the ban of sachet alcohol should be replaced with the establishment of licensed liquor stores/outlets in local government areas across the country and making it unlawful to send underage persons to purchase alcoholic beverages.

It also said the process of enforcement should be tightened, with Increased monitoring and compliance checks by NAFDAC, FCCPC, and others to ensure strict product quality in terms of content and safety.

The lawmakers added that producers of sachet alcohol should expose the dangers associated with the abuse of alcohol sachet products, by boldly inscribing and enumerating the danger on the packs, as obtained in the case of tobacco.

According to the resolutions, government regulatory bodies should place more emphasis on regulation, monitoring and enlightenment campaigns to educate stakeholders and the general public on the dangers of under-aged consumption of alcohol and its sales in motor parks.

It further stated that enlightenment campaigns should be carried out in secondary schools across the country, as practiced by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to educate students on dangers and vices associated with the abuse of alcohol.

The lawmakers said parents, religious bodies and Non-Governmental Organisation, NGOs, should be tasked to counsel their children or ward, especially the under aged, on the danger of alcohol consumption.