Kenya’s government has unveiled sweeping proposals to tighten control over alcohol sales and consumption, triggering a wave of criticism from industry players and the public.
The draft rules, released on Wednesday by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada), seek to raise the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21 and ban the sale of alcohol in supermarkets, restaurants, petrol stations, and on public transport. Online sales, home delivery, and celebrity endorsements of alcohol would also be outlawed.
If enacted, alcoholic drinks would only be available in pubs, bars and specially licensed liquor stores. Authorities say the plan aims to tackle widespread substance abuse among Kenyan youth. A 2022 Nacada survey estimated that one in 20 Kenyans between 15 and 65 is addicted to alcohol.
But the proposals have provoked a fierce backlash. Critics warn the measures could devastate the hospitality and retail sectors, cost thousands of jobs, and drive consumers toward illicit brews.
The Alcoholic Beverage Association of Kenya (Abak) called the plan “exclusionary” and “unrealistic,” accusing Nacada of drafting the policy without consulting manufacturers.
Prominent lawyer Donald Kipkorir warned on social media that banning alcohol in restaurants and supermarkets would “kill the hospitality sector,” adding: “Tourism is driven by good food, alcohol and leisure.”
Faced with mounting criticism, Nacada clarified that the document is a “roadmap, not an enforcement issue,” and that any measure requiring legal backing will undergo a review process involving stakeholders.
Kenya has struggled for years to contain alcohol abuse. Past initiatives, including a 2023 proposal to limit towns to one pub each, have largely failed and sparked protests from bar and restaurant owners.