Angola has banned the production, import and sale of alcohol in small plastic sachets, known as “packages” locally. The measure has been enacted to safeguard public health and regulate trade. It has come into force after a 60 day notice period advising businesses to switch to glass packaging.
According to Executive Decree No. 13/24, of January 12th 2024, the prohibition refers to spirit drinks (whisky, vodka, gin and rum), which have a minimum alcohol content of 15% ABV and are composed of ethanol.
Failure to comply with the new law is punishable under the terms of the Law on Industrial Activities and Commercial Activities and the respective regulations and its supervision is the responsibility of the General Tax Administration, Tax Police, and the National Authority for Economic Inspection and Food Safety (ANIESA).
Angola is not the only country wrestling with the issue of sachet alcohol. On February 5, 2024, Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control announced a ban on alcoholic beverages sold in sachets or bottles of less than 200ml.
Kenyan banned packaging of alcohol in sachets in 2005. Tanzania and Uganda banned the sale alcohol in packages of less than 200ml in 2019.
In 2013, Malawi banned the sale of alcohol in sachets. Alcohol manufacturers challenged the ban in court and subsequently got it overturned. Although the ban was re-enacted in 2015, manufacturers started selling the alcohol, known locally as masacheti, in 5 litre bottles. These would then be decanted into small measures and sold in the informal trade. As in Nigeria, sachet alcohol is high ABV – often as much as 50%.
