Nairobi –
Kenya’s national drug control agency is calling for sweeping changes to the country’s alcohol laws in a move it says is aimed at protecting young people and curbing alcohol abuse.
In a bold set of proposals announced on Monday, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) said it wants the legal drinking age raised from 18 to 21, a ban on online alcohol sales, a prohibition on celebrity endorsements, and restrictions on alcohol outlets near schools and churches.
“This is not about denying anyone their rights,” said NACADA CEO Dr Anthony Omerikwa. “It’s about saving lives, especially the lives of our youth.”
The agency says the current laws are outdated and too weak to deal with modern challenges. Online delivery, for example, has made it easier for teenagers to access alcohol without checks. And celebrity promotions, often seen on social media, glamorise drinking to a youthful audience.
“Walk into any estate, and you’ll find alcohol being delivered like pizza,” said one NACADA official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the press. “We’re normalising a dangerous culture.”
The proposals are part of a wider policy review, and NACADA is urging both national and county governments to support them through legislative changes.
Pushback and Concerns
But the proposals have already sparked mixed reactions.
Some bar owners and alcohol distributors say the move would hurt small businesses that are still recovering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It feels like we’re being punished for other people’s mistakes,” said Josphat Mwangi, who runs a wines and spirits shop in Nairobi’s South B. “If we follow the rules and check IDs, why should we suffer?”
Others argue that enforcement-not new laws-is the real problem. Kenya already has legal limits on alcohol advertising and sales near schools, but enforcement is patchy.
“Why make new laws if the old ones aren’t followed?” asked Martha Njeri, a teacher in Kiambu County. “Let’s first fix that.”
Still, health experts have backed NACADA’s proposals, calling them a step in the right direction.
Dr. Faith Ndung’u, a public health researcher, says raising the drinking age could delay early exposure to alcohol and reduce addiction risks. “Science supports the idea that the brain is still developing until the early twenties,” she said. “Early drinking can lead to long-term harm.”
Next Steps
The proposed changes are expected to go through public participation and policy discussions before they can be tabled in Parliament or implemented at the county level.
NACADA says it’s ready for dialogue-but insists the time for action is now.
“We have watched too many families suffer. We have buried too many young people,” Dr Omerikwa said. “We owe it to the next generation to act.”
As the debate heats up, the question remains: will Kenya choose tighter controls-or stick with the status quo?
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