The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse, or NACADA in Kenya recently launched a nationwide crackdown on locations and approved ways of selling alcohol as part of bold steps to curb alcohol consumption.
Reports indicate that Kenya’s new initiative on alcohol sale, forms part of a bigger effort to block access to easily abused substances such as alcohol and drugs.
Under the new rules, selling alcohol through online platforms, home deliveries, and couriers is now completely prohibited. Also affected are petrol stations, restaurants, residential areas, and even toy shops or any outlet linked to children’s products.
In addition, the legal drinking age has been raised from 18 to 21. Anyone under 21 is no longer allowed to enter any place that sells alcohol, regardless of whether they are with an adult.
NACADA reports within the last three years have revealed that 1 in 6 Kenyans aged 15–65 (or ~4.73 million people) were currently using at least one drug or substance of abuse. Around 57 % of Kenyans have used alcohol or abused at least one substance, based on a separate NACADA study with 2022 data
