NACADA targets bars, alcohol billboards near schools in fresh crackdown
The National Authority
for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has announced
a nationwide crackdown to close down bars and other liquor dispensing outlets
and the removal of billboards promoting alcoholic drinks located near learning
institutions.
NACADA CEO Anthony
Omerikwa on Monday said the crackdown would affect bars and liquor dispensing
establishments located less than 300 metres from educational institutions or
areas catering to individuals below 18 years.
NACADA decried the
increased promotion of alcoholic drinks and alcohol use through billboards
erected near learning institutions across the country which is a blatant breach
of the laws.
“The crackdown will be
executed in collaboration with relevant National and County Government agencies
and seeks to ensure strict compliance with legal requirements about the
positioning of such outlets,” he said.
Omerikwa regretted
that the presence of the billboards undermined their efforts against the vice. He
said it normalises the consumption of alcohol and portrays it as an appealing
and glamorous choice.
At the same time, he
called on advertising agencies and businesses to exercise social
responsibility. Omerikwa said the initiative is anchored in the Alcoholic
Drinks Control Act of 2010 and the Alcoholic Drinks Promotion Regulations.
The Alcoholic Drinks
Control Act provides a legal liability to any person who sells alcoholic drinks
in prohibited locations. This is like a fine not exceeding Ksh.500,000 or
imprisonment to a jail term not exceeding three years, or both.
The crackdown is the
latest in a series of other Government initiatives aimed at arresting alcohol
and drug abuse, especially among the youth.
Speaking while
launching the agency’s Strategic Plan 2023-2027 in Nairobi, Principal Secretary
for Internal Security and National Administration, Raymond Omollo said illicit
brews, alcohol and substance abuse were undermining the country’s progress and
had mostly affected the youth.
“Drug use and abuse in
the country has also been identified to be mostly affecting the youth and our
learning institutions,” said PS Omollo.
Citing NACADA
statistics, he said the average age for initiation into alcohol use in Kenya is
16 years.
Dr Omollo said
Interior Cabinet Secretary, Prof Kithure Kindiki on March 6 declared illicit
alcohol, drug and substance abuse a top national security threat.
The declaration, he
said, meant the fight against illicit drugs had been given elevated
significance necessitating an intensified war against drugs.
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