The Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development Ghana (VAST-Ghana) has commended the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) for banning mixed alcoholic energy drinks from the Ghanaian market.

On February 25, 2026, the FDA issued an official directive under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), following a post-registration safety review. The directive prohibits the sale of products that combine alcohol with stimulants such as caffeine, inositol, glucuronolactone, ginseng and guarana.

Importers, manufacturers and distributors have been ordered to remove the affected products from shelves, warehouses and distribution channels by March 31, 2026, or face fines and possible prosecution.

According to VAST-Ghana, the ban addresses longstanding public health concerns associated with mixing alcohol, a depressant, with stimulants.

The group cited guidance from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has warned that stimulants can mask the intoxicating effects of alcohol, leading to overconsumption, risky behaviour and increased harm, particularly among young people.

The organisation also referenced a study by the Department of Psychology at Palo Alto University in California, which found that young adults aged 25 and below who consumed mixed alcoholic energy drinks were six times more likely to engage in fights compared to those who consumed alcohol alone.

The study linked such consumption to incidents including brawls, bullying, victimisation and sexual violence.

VAST-Ghana described the FDA’s decision as consistent with international precedents, noting that countries such as the United States, Canada and Lebanon have implemented similar restrictions.

While welcoming the directive, the group urged the FDA to enhance public transparency by publishing the names or a reference list of affected products to facilitate compliance among consumers and retailers.

VAST-Ghana further described the ban as momentum for broader alcohol control reforms, including its longstanding call for a prohibition on alcohol sold in sachets and small-volume PET bottles of 200 millilitres and below. The organisation argued that such packaging increases affordability and access to high-strength alcohol, particularly among vulnerable groups, and contributes to alcohol-related diseases.

Labram Musah, Executive Director of VAST-Ghana and National Coordinator of the NCD Alliance, Ghana, said although the products should not have been approved initially, the directive represents a significant step for public safety. He indicated that the organisation is ready to support awareness campaigns, compliance monitoring and further advocacy on beverage regulation reforms.

VAST-Ghana has urged industry players, retailers, consumers and civil society groups to comply fully with the directive and called on the FDA to sustain enforcement and public education efforts beyond the March 31 deadline.