Enugu Traders ‘Unaware’ Of Ban On Sachet Alcohol Drinks

Most traders in selected markets in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State say they are not aware that the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, banned the production and sale of sachet and small quantity packaged alcoholic drinks.

THE WHISTLER observed displayed small quantities of the products in various shops.

“We hear that they arrested those packaging them in Enugu,” a trader at Oghe said. “But they did not say we should not sell those in our shops. Nobody has come to tell us that we can’t sell them. You can see that we don’t hide them.”

A trader, identified as Nick, also said there was never a time they were told not to sell the small packed alcoholic beverages.

In his words, “How can such be even considered? Many people can’t afford the big ones. It is the high cost of various brands of beer that forced people to be buying small ‘hot’. Let our leaders think of other ways to tackle the hardship in the country; not banning what will be impossible.”

John Odeke is a consumer of the product. According to him, “Let the government make the cost of various beer brands cheaper. My choice beer brand costs about N800. I can no longer afford it. It is these small ones that with as little as N200, I can lay hands on a small quantity to manage my stress. Let them think of other serious matters, and leave us alone.”

Meanwhile, a commercial driver, on condition of anonymity, said, “Since the ban, nothing has changed. We still carry them concealed very well to even Abuja. The demand is high, and if they want to ‘crash’ it, let them make other drinks cheaper. The patronage is because it is cheap.”

Recall that concerned Nigerians under the auspices of the Food Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and National Union of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employee, NUFBTE, recently held protests in Lagos against the ban on production, sale and consumption of alcohol in sachets and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

The National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) recently announced the ban with a vow to clampdown on individuals or companies flouting the directive.

The protesters, who stormed the Lagos office of NAFDAC, said over 10, 000 jobs would be lost as a result of the ban.