Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development (VAST-Ghana) has called on the Government of Ghana and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to immediately ban the production and sale of alcohol in sachets and miniature bottles, citing growing alcohol use among students.

In a press statement issued on February 6, 2026, the public health advocacy organisation said recent research shows alcohol has become the most commonly used substance among Ghanaian students, with initiation ages reportedly dropping to as low as 10 years.

The group described the trend as alarming and linked it to the widespread availability of cheap, small-sized alcohol packaging.

According to VAST-Ghana, sachet and miniature alcohol products, often priced between GH¢3 and GH¢5, make high-strength spirits easily accessible to children and low-income communities. The organisation argued that the small, easy-to-hide packaging enables underage users to conceal the products in school bags and pockets, increasing the risk of early exposure, addiction and long-term health complications.

The group commended Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for enforcing a nationwide ban on sachet alcohol and bottles under 200 millilitres in January 2026, despite opposition from industry players. It urged Ghana to adopt a similar approach to protect public health.

VAST-Ghana noted that the FDA has the authority under the Public Health Act (Act 851) to implement such a ban through regulatory action. It also welcomed government’s plan to introduce an Alcohol Control Regulations Bill aimed at strengthening restrictions on alcohol marketing and protecting vulnerable groups, particularly young people.

Citing World Health Organization data, the organisation said alcohol is linked to more than 200 diseases globally and accounts for approximately three million deaths annually. It stressed that restricting the availability of high-risk packaging forms part of the WHO’s recommended “best buy” interventions for reducing harmful alcohol use.

VAST-Ghana is urging the FDA to exercise its regulatory mandate to ban sachet alcohol and miniature bottles, integrate the WHO’s SAFER technical package into national policy, and fast-track the adoption of comprehensive alcohol control regulations.