The Small and Medium Liquor Traders Association (MELTA) has warned that proposed alcohol regulations by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) could lead to massive job losses and business closures across Kenya.
In a press statement, MELTA said it supports several proposed reforms, including monitoring alcohol outlets, public education, strengthening rehabilitation programmes and protecting persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
However, the association raised concerns over restrictions seeking to raise the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 years, prohibit alcohol outlets within 300 metres of schools, places of worship and residential areas, and ban online alcohol sales and home deliveries.
MELTA chairman Frank Mbogo argued that raising the drinking age would threaten employment opportunities for young adults aged between 18 and 20, who he claimed account for 80 per cent of the workforce in the liquor and hospitality industry.
According to the association, data from a 2024 liquor industry database indicates that more than two million adults in this age bracket earn their livelihoods from liquor-related businesses.
MELTA warned that the proposed age restriction could push some young people towards illicit and substandard alcohol, potentially undermining efforts to curb the sale and consumption of illegal brews.
The association also questioned the proposed 300-metre restriction, arguing that it would be difficult to implement in densely populated urban centres such as Nairobi, where buildings, schools, residential areas and places of worship are often located close to one another.
Mbogo said the restriction could force numerous businesses to shut down, affecting traders who have invested in the sector.
The proposed ban on online alcohol sales and home deliveries has also raised concerns among small-scale entrepreneurs who depend on the business for income.
MELTA noted that some delivery operators had taken bank loans to purchase motorcycles used in their businesses and could struggle to repay them if the restrictions are implemented.
The association warned that the measures could undermine the government’s employment creation agenda, particularly its commitment to generating more than 500,000 jobs annually.
MELTA has consequently appealed to NACADA and the national government to reassess the economic implications of the proposed regulations and conduct a comprehensive impact assessment involving relevant industry stakeholders before implementation.
The association said it remains willing to work with NACADA to develop a balanced regulatory framework that protects public health while safeguarding businesses, employment and responsible alcohol consumption.