The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert warning Nigerians against the importation, distribution, sale, and consumption of Café de Paris Vodka Energy Drink, an alcoholic beverage that combines alcohol with stimulants. The warning follows the seizure of approximately 140 boxes of the product by Ghana's Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) during an enforcement operation in the Upper East Region in May 2026.
Ghana's ban on alcoholic energy drinks
Ghana's FDA prohibited the manufacture, importation, distribution, and sale of alcoholic energy drinks after scientific evidence demonstrated that mixing alcohol with stimulants poses significant health risks. The nationwide ban was announced on February 27, 2026, with a deadline of March 31, 2026, for manufacturers, importers, and distributors to withdraw all affected products from the market. After the deadline expired, enforcement activities led to the seizure of approximately 140 boxes of Café de Paris Vodka Energy Drink.
Health risks of mixing alcohol and stimulants
According to NAFDAC's Public Alert No. 032/2026, the product contains stimulants such as caffeine, inositol, glucuronolactone, ginseng, and guarana. These stimulants can mask the depressant effects of alcohol, making consumers feel less intoxicated than they actually are. This false sense of alertness may encourage excessive alcohol consumption and increase the risk of alcohol poisoning, impaired judgment, risky behaviour, road traffic crashes, violence, and other serious health complications, particularly among young people.
Risk of illegal importation into Nigeria
NAFDAC explained that products rejected or banned in neighbouring countries sometimes find their way into Nigeria through informal cross-border trade and illegal importation routes. Therefore, the agency urged importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and members of the public not to import, stock, sell, or consume the product. Nigerians who come across the drink anywhere in the country are advised to immediately report it to the nearest NAFDAC office for appropriate regulatory action.
Call for vigilance and reporting
"The public is advised to exercise caution and avoid the importation, distribution, sale and consumption of the banned alcoholic energy drink," NAFDAC stated. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to report any suspected adverse reactions associated with the product through the agency's pharmacovigilance channels. The alert forms part of ongoing collaboration among regulatory authorities in West Africa aimed at preventing unsafe food and beverage products from circulating across borders and protecting public health.
