The Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs Control (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which has undergone First Reading in the National Assembly, is the government’s latest attempt to deal with illicit alcohol. But the Bill assumes that restricting alcohol sales is the answer to a problem rooted in enforcement.
Kenya already has laws regulating the manufacture, distribution, sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks. They are not consistently enforced. More restrictions risk making it harder for legitimate businesses to operate while leaving illicit suppliers untouched.
The proposal to raise the minimum legal drinking age from 18 to 21 is a case in point. At 18, Kenyans can vote, marry and enter contracts. Yet the Bill would restrict their ability to consume alcohol and limit their employment opportunities. Industry modelling suggests the change could put Sh3.31 billion in annual retail and hospitality revenue at risk, threaten close to 10,000 jobs and close about 2,000 outlets. Businesses are already prohibited from selling alcohol to anyone under 18 and we in the bars and restaurants business adhere to that and self-regulate effectively. In Nyeri, bar and restaurant operators have agreed after consultations to stop stocking and selling some brands that have failed the integrity test.
Supermarkets also don’t sell to minors. Where minors access alcohol, it is often through illicit channels.
