The legal drinking age in Kenya will be raised from 18 to 21. The decision was made by the government, which announced a new national measure called the “National Policy on the Prevention, Management and Control of Alcohol, Drugs and Substance Abuse”.
The legislation was drafted by the Kenyan Ministry of the Interior after consultations with civil, social and religious bodies in the country and is part of initiatives to combat alcohol, drug and substance abuse, particularly among children, young people and women.
The Minister of the Interior, Kipchumba Murkomen, said that the new policy provides a united front for stakeholders to take decisive action, restore order and protect communities from the growing crisis of alcohol and drug abuse.
Not only will the minimum age for alcohol consumption be raised, but also the minimum age for purchase and sale, as well as for production, distillation and distribution.
‘The increasing potency and variety of substances being abused, coupled with the rise in illicit drug trafficking, is threatening the well-being of our population and the future of our young people. This policy provides us with a united front to act now, restore order and safeguard our communities,’ Murkomen said.
According to the government, raising the legal drinking age to 21 will not only help delay the onset of alcohol consumption among young people, but will also provide law enforcement and community leaders with stronger legal support to curb underage drinking, particularly in entertainment venues and educational institutions.
The data on alcohol consumption among young people in Kenya is alarming: according to recent reports, approximately 3.6 million young people in Kenya abuse alcohol. The problem remains very worrying and contributes to various social and health problems among the youth population.