The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has ordered the removal of mixed drinks containing both alcohol and stimulants such as caffeine, inositol, glucuronolactone, ginseng, and guarana from the Ghanaian market.

The directive comes after a post-registration review of these products, which considered international and regional regulatory precedents where alcoholic energy drinks have been restricted, suspended, or banned due to public health risks.

The assessment, conducted under Sections 81 and 82(a) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), evaluated the safety and compliance of these products on the local market.

Findings from the FDA’s Food Expert Committee, including the Technical Advisory Committee on Food Safety and Nutrition, highlighted that combining alcohol with stimulants poses serious health risks and adverse psychosocial behaviours, particularly among youth, young adults, and unsuspecting consumers.

Under the FDA directive, all importers, manufacturers, and distributors of alcoholic energy drinks are required to clear these products from the market by the end of March 2026. Products remaining beyond this deadline will face regulatory sanctions, including withdrawal from the market.

The agency further instructed manufacturers to re-formulate their products to strictly conform to approved standards for alcoholic beverages and energy drinks as separate categories.

“The FDA remains committed to safeguarding public health and ensuring that all food and beverage products in Ghana meet approved safety, quality, and regulatory standards,” the agency said in a statement.

Consumers are encouraged to report any suspicious or non-compliant products for investigation and enforcement action.