Kenya is currently witnessing rising tensions following the release of new sweeping proposals aimed at tightening control over the sale and consumption of alcohol
Among the most debated suggestions is the plan to raise the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 and to ban alcohol sales in supermarkets restaurants public transport and other common outlets
Also on the list are restrictions on online alcohol sales home delivery and celebrity endorsements which the authorities say are fuelling substance abuse among the youth
Government’s Justification and Public Backlash
The proposals were presented by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse Nacada and described as one of the boldest alcohol control initiatives in Kenya’s recent history
Nacada defended the move saying it was in response to rising addiction rates noting that as of 2022 one in every 20 Kenyans aged 15 to 65 were considered addicted to alcohol
Following intense criticism Nacada clarified that the document is only a road map for future actions not an immediate policy adding
“Any proposal that requires legal backing will undergo a thorough law review process”
Industry Groups and Legal Experts React
Traders and alcohol producers have openly condemned the draft policy warning that if implemented it could cause massive job losses and increase demand for illicit alcohol
The Alcoholic Beverage Association of Kenya Abak faulted Nacada for what it called a non-inclusive process stating
“It is unfortunate that manufacturers who could have added valuable insights to the policy were excluded”
Prominent lawyer Donald Kipkorir also weighed in on X saying
“The move to ban the sale of alcohol in supermarkets restaurants public beaches recreational facilities and petrol stations will kill the hospitality sector in Kenya”
He added
“Tourism is driven by good food alcohol wine beer and spirits and sex”
Previous Efforts and Ongoing Struggles
This is not the first time Kenya has tried to clamp down on alcohol abuse with previous legislative efforts failing to curb the crisis
In 2023 then Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua proposed that each town in central Kenya be limited to only one pub in a bid to tackle widespread alcoholism in that region
However bar and restaurant owners rejected the idea saying the government was punishing legitimate businesses while the plan eventually collapsed
The new proposal underscores the growing tension between public health concerns and economic realities While authorities aim to curb substance abuse especially among youth critics argue that rushed or exclusionary policy decisions could create unintended consequences including the collapse of key sectors and a surge in unregulated alcohol production
As the debate deepens stakeholders await how the implementation framework will take shape and whether a balance between regulation and economic viability can be struck
