The agency’s alcohol control proposals sparkle anger

In Kenya, a storm is boiled for the most suggestions for controlling the sale and consumption of alcohol, including increasing the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21.

The increased rules offered on Wednesday include a ban on buying alcohol at supermarkets, restaurants and public transport. Online sale and delivery of alcoholic beverages, as well as celebrity approvals, will also be outlawed.

Authorities have defended the planned measures as needed to deal with drug abuse, especially among young people.

But many Kenyans, including those in the alcohol industry, have criticized proposals as deluded and potentially destructive to the economy.

If approved, then alcohol will only be available in pubs and bars, as well as in stores specially licensed for its sale.

The plans were revealed by the national authority for the campaign against alcohol and drug abuse (NACADA) in what was seen as one of the most aggressive alcohol control policies that the country has seen.

The agency estimated in 2022 that one in every 20 kenium between the ages of 15 and 65 was addicted to alcohol.

Following the resulting against her proposals, Nacada sent a statement that clarified that her policy was a “roadmap, not an implementation,” adding that the next step is to develop a performance plan that includes different players.

“Any proposal that requires legal support will undergo a thorough process of reviewing the law,” he added.

Alcohol traders and manufacturers have sharply criticized NACADA’s plans, warning that their application can cause a crisis in the industry.

They claim that measures would lead to widespread job losses and push consumers to the illegal alcohol market.

The Association of Alcoholic Beverages in Kenya (ABAK) said Nacada has developed a policy project without consulting the manufacturers, calling it “exclusion” and “unrealistic.”

As she was supporting the fight against alcohol abuse, she said it was “a pity” that manufacturers who “could add valuable information about politics” were excluded.

The prominent lawyer Donald Kipkorir told X that moving for “banning the sale of alcohol to supermarkets, restaurants, public beaches, leisure facilities and gas stations would kill the hospitality sector in Kenya.”

“Tourism is moving with good food, alcohol (wine, beer and spirits) and sex,” he added.

Kenya tried to control alcohol abuse in the past, including through legislative attempts, although the problem of abuse continued, with dozens of people died of consuming harmful alcohol.

In 2023, then-West President Rigati Gachagua proposed a radical step to reducing alcohol abuse in the central region of the country, regarded as the worst affected by the threat, stating that only one city pubs should allow the city.

But the owners of bars and restaurants have complained that the government is wrong its priorities by turning to the legal business. In the end, the plan fell apart.