The Ebonyi Office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed three shops in the state over the sale of sachet alcoholic beverages.

The action was part of NAFDAC’s nationwide enforcement of the ban on the sale and distribution of sachet alcoholic drinks.

The agency, in 2023, placed a ban on the sale and distribution of sachet alcoholic drinks in sachets, PET and glass bottles of 200ml and below.

Emeka Orajaka, coordinator of NAFDAC in Ebonyi, said on Wednesday during the enforcement exercise that a total of 43 shops had been visited.

Mr Orajaka said that three shops were closed during the enforcement in Abakaliki and Ezza local government area of the state by the regulatory team of the agency.

The coordinator said the shops were closed because they were selling such offending products, especially alcoholic beverages in sachets, PET and glass bottles of 200ml and below.

“These items were banned in 2023, but the enforcement has now begun. Today, we carried out a raid in the respective marketplaces, motor parks, and plazas.

“The places visited are where such specified products are sold; many of the products were mopped up and three shops were placed on hold during the exercise for non-compliance with the ban order.

“The objective of the ban is to protect against the abuse among vulnerable people and children; alcoholic abuse has great disadvantages to the human health.

“It damages the organs like the liver and kidney; it increases the risk of high blood pressure (BP) and weakens the immune system.

“Yes, the exercise is a continuous process, and I want to advise the general public to be wary of those products on NAFDAC list ban,” Mr Orajaka advised.

(NAN)