Gov’t Clarifies Banning Alcohol Sales In Supermarkets, Restaurants
The government has clarified the supposed restriction on the sale of alcohol in supermarkets, restaurants, internet platforms, and home deliveries, stating that they are all ideas rather than actual legislation.
On Wednesday, July 30, a spokesman of the Ministry of Interior informed Kenyans that the ideas stated in the National Policy for the Prevention, Management, and Control of Alcohol, Drugs, and Substance Abuse 2025 would be open to public discussion and debate.
🔥 SHIELDING OUR YOUTH FROM TOXIC INFLUENCES! 🔥
— NACADA Kenya (@NACADAKenya) July 30, 2025
Alcohol ads targeting young people? LET'S ADDRESS THIS!!!
The National Alcohol Policy 2025 is taking bold action:
🚫 Strict limits on alcohol marketing
🛑 No more glamorizing drinking to minors
📵 Reduced exposure across all… pic.twitter.com/anWxe0pGSn
The recommendations include bans on the selling of alcohol in supermarkets, residential buildings, restaurants, and basic, tertiary, and higher education institutions.
It also barred online alcohol sales and home delivery.
CLARIFICATION!!! pic.twitter.com/zoxo0TMLgs
— NACADA Kenya (@NACADAKenya) July 30, 2025
The legislation also prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol on public beaches, parks, amusement parks, gas stations, dining areas in members’ clubs, and hotels.
Another idea was to raise the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 years old, ostensibly in an effort to limit alcohol usage among teenagers.
The government stated that the plans will be open for public comment through NACADA, allowing Kenyans to express their opinions.
This procedure occurs before the ideas are presented to Parliament, with the goal of amending the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act of 2010, which oversees the sale, packaging, and use of alcohol in Kenya.
According to the official, once Parliament receives the ideas, the matter will be debated and subject to additional public engagement from Kenyans.
Because they are only recommendations, the government has not established the required legal frameworks to address their potential consequences.
Nonetheless, the official insisted that consultations with the relevant parties will address difficulties raised by the suggestions.
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The clarification came amid criticism from several Kenyans who were dissatisfied with the suggestions.
This was primarily due to a lack of accurate information about the topic, since most people misinterpreted the suggestions as legislation that would be adopted immediately.
Drug and substance abuse is compromising our public health, robbing the future of our youth, breaking families, fueling crime and tearing our communities apart.
— KIPCHUMBA MURKOMEN, E.G.H (@kipmurkomen) July 30, 2025
Delighted to preside over the launch of the first-ever National Policy on the Prevention, Management, and Control of… pic.twitter.com/tad3ISONu0
Citizens were dissatisfied with the absence of public participation in the ‘rules’ as well as the lack of consideration for the economic impact of the regulations on enterprises.
If the recommendations are implemented, alcohol will only be sold in bars and liquor stores, which have become a major source of dispute among impacted Kenyans.
Gov’t Clarifies Banning Alcohol Sales In Supermarkets, Restaurants
