Donald Kipkorir blasts NACADA over plan to raise legal drinking age to 21
Lawyer Donald Kipkorir has criticised the government’s proposed national alcohol policy led by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), terming it illogical and demeaning to Kenya’s youth, especially Gen Z.
In a statement on July 30, 2025, Kipkorir questioned the inconsistency in policies that deem 18-year-olds mature enough to make life-altering decisions, yet too immature to decide whether or not to consume alcohol.
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“The government of Kenya is telling its Gen-Z that at 18, they are mature, wise, and clever enough to vote for MCA, MP, governor, and president, who decide the lives of 60m Kenyans. That they can have sex, marry, & have children. They can own property. They can join the army and defend our borders. They can drive & carry passengers on a highway!”
“But that at 18, they are stupid, weak, and foolish to decide on whether or not to drink & have to wait until they are 21! What a stupid, illogical thinking by our bureaucrats led by NACADA,” he added.
The policy unveiled by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen outlines some bold proposals intended to curb rising substance abuse in the country.
If adopted, the policy would ban online alcohol sales and home deliveries. It also proposes that alcohol should no longer be sold in supermarkets, petrol stations, restaurants, residential areas, or near learning institutions.
The policy recommends raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21. Under this proposal, anyone below 21 would not be allowed to enter alcohol-selling outlets, even when accompanied by adults. Anyone accompanied by a child or found carrying dangerous weapons would also be prohibited from purchasing alcohol.
Another significant proposal is the restriction on using public figures in alcohol advertisements. NACADA wants to ban the use of musicians, actors, athletes, media personalities, and influencers in promoting alcohol. Only individuals over the age of 25 would be allowed to appear in alcohol-related adverts.
The policy also seeks to end lifestyle marketing that portrays drinking as glamorous or aspirational. Advertising during watershed hours between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm would be banned across all platforms, including television, online content, and foreign broadcasts. Music videos, films, and performances that portray alcohol or substance use in a positive light would be restricted from appearing in print or electronic media.
Other proposals
The proposals go further to ban alcohol advertising or sponsorship of events that target individuals below the age of 21. Marketing alcohol at schools, universities, youth sports, entertainment shows, and arts competitions would also be banned. Outdoor alcohol advertising would face new rules, including a ban on billboards within 300 meters of schools, hospitals, residential areas, and government buildings.
The policy suggests that all alcohol advertisements should contain only factual information. They would not be allowed to promote the strength or supposed benefits of alcohol, dismiss abstinence, or link alcohol to a specific lifestyle.
Changes are also proposed to alcohol packaging. Manufacturers would be required to include clear health warnings and full ingredient lists. A minimum packaging size of 250 millilitres would be introduced to eliminate cheap, high-alcohol sachets and small bottles that are commonly consumed in informal settings.
Finally, the policy recommends that only the national government should have the power to issue licenses for the manufacture, import, export, and distribution of alcohol.
It also calls for tighter regulation of the number and location of alcohol outlets, especially in residential and educational areas.
