In a bid to crackdown on alcohol and substance abuse in Kenya, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has announced a nationwide ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol in numerous locations, including supermarkets and petrol stations.

The stringent new measures, outlined in a report released today, Wednesday, July 30, are designed to drastically reduce access to and availability of alcohol, drugs, and other substances of abuse.

The immediate prohibition extends to online alcohol sales, home deliveries, and courier services. Retail outlets selling products associated with children, such as toy shops, will also no longer be permitted to sell alcohol.

The sweeping directive targets ten categories of locations for alcohol sales prohibition. These include:

• Vending machines
• Public beaches, parks, amusement and recreational facilities
• Medical and sports facilities
• Transport hubs: bus parks, bus stops, railway stations, ferries, piers, and along highways
• Hawking of alcohol
• Supermarkets
• Residential premises and areas
• Restaurants
• Basic education, tertiary, and higher learning institutions
• Any event oriented toward children (festivals, parties, sporting, recreational events), and to individuals accompanied by children.
• online

Beyond sales, NACADA has also outlawed alcohol consumption in a broad range of public spaces, mirroring many of the sales prohibitions.

This includes beaches, parks, medical centres, sports facilities, bus parks, petrol stations, and along highways.

Crucially, restaurants and dining areas in members’ clubs and hotels are now listed as prohibited consumption zones, as are all educational institutions.

Further tightening the noose, the consumption of alcohol by or to individuals armed with offensive weapons is now illegal, and no one under the age of 21 will be allowed to enter alcohol-selling premises, even if accompanied by an adult.

Tougher licensing measures unveiled

NACADA is also introducing stringent new licensing regulations. Any new retail or wholesale alcohol outlet will be banned from operating within 300 metres of any nursery, primary, secondary, or higher learning institution.

The number of alcohol outlets in any locality will be restricted based on population density, and operating hours for retail outlets will be more tightly regulated.

In a move set to reshape the alcohol retail landscape, sales of alcohol in packaging smaller than 250ml will be banned, and general retail alcohol licences (including for wines and spirits shops, supermarkets, and franchise stores) will be prohibited. Public officers involved in enforcement will be barred from owning or operating alcohol outlets to curb conflicts of interest.

Counties are now mandated to establish robust institutional frameworks for alcohol licensing, emphasizing community involvement, a multi-agency approach, and strict adherence to national standards, free from industry influence. The authority underscored the critical need for responsible alcohol service training for staff across all entertainment venues and retail outlets to ensure accountability and prevent abuse.