A new plan to restrict the sale and consumption of alcohol in Kenya is facing a firestorm of criticism, with critics arguing the measures could devastate the economy and lead to widespread job losses. The controversial proposals, put forward by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada), aim to tackle substance abuse, particularly among the youth.
The draft policy, described by Nacada as a “road map,” includes a wide range of strict regulations:
- Raising the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21.
- Banning the sale of alcohol in supermarkets, restaurants, and on public transport.
- Outlawing online sales, home delivery, and celebrity endorsements for alcoholic beverages.
Under these new rules, alcohol would only be available for purchase in licensed pubs, bars, and specialty liquor stores. Nacada’s proposals are a response to what the agency calls a significant public health issue, citing a 2022 estimate that one in every 20 Kenyans aged 15 to 65 is addicted to alcohol.
\The proposals have been met with swift and sharp backlash. The Alcoholic Beverage Association of Kenya (Abak) condemned the policy, stating that Nacada developed the draft without consulting manufacturers. The organization called the plan “exclusionary” and “unrealistic,” warning that its implementation would drive consumers toward the dangerous illicit alcohol market.
Prominent lawyer Donald Kipkorir took to social media to voice his concerns, arguing that the ban on alcohol sales in supermarkets and restaurants would “kill the hospitality sector in Kenya” and that tourism relies on “good food, alcohol… and sex.”
In response to the criticism, Nacada issued a clarifying statement, emphasizing that the proposals are not yet an “enforcement issue” and that any measure requiring legal backing would undergo a “thorough law review process” that involves key stakeholders.
This is not the first time Kenya has attempted to implement radical anti-alcohol policies. In 2023, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua suggested limiting towns to just one pub to combat alcohol abuse in the central region of the country. That plan ultimately fell apart after pushback from business owners who argued the government was unfairly targeting legitimate businesses.
While the problem of alcohol abuse has been a persistent issue in Kenya, leading to dozens of deaths from harmful substances, critics of Nacada’s new plan say the focus should be on cracking down on the illegal alcohol trade rather than crippling the formal, regulated industry.