Tag Archives: law

THE ALCOHOL BILL | The pros’ and cons’

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The alcohol bill better known as the Mututho law, is the bill that was passed by parliament a few months ago. The private member’s bill was nicknamed ‘Mututho law’ after the Member of parliament who came up with the bill. The law states that drinking hours on weekdays are between 5-11pm and no selling of alcohol before 2pm on weekends. The law also prohibits establishments selling alcohol from being located 300 meters within the schools. The law is aimed at controlling the consumption of alcohol.

Bases on the fact that a flamboyant portion of the country’s revenue comes from alcoholic drinks; it is questionable if the law is doing more good than harm. First, in terms of the economy, there is less productivity among employees. They are either distracted because of going through the day without their favorite drink, or they have to leave the work premises early in order to hit the bar at the drinking hours. There is also loss of jobs and revenue especially due to the regulation on the location of drinking joints near academic institutions. Many bars have had to close down temporarily or permanently because of this.

Let us not forget that most of the drinkers are moderate drinkers. Although, looking at the bright side, the good news is that there will be reduced alcohol-related problems and alcohol related problems among the youth; this is according to the anti-alcohol campaigners. All in all it is up to an individual. The law cannot conquer irresponsible drinking. Even with the law in place people still over-engage in alcohol. It should be uplifted for the sake of the economy.

References:
A counter to Mututho Law
Misery in Kenya as Mututho law bites
‘Mututho’ Law cannot deal with alcohol abuse

The Alcohol Dilemma

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In an already soaring economic environment, the so soon effected directive to increase excise duty on alcohol is projected to reduce government revenue.

On March 22nd 2010, National Campaign against Drug Abuse (Nacada) acceded to legalizing chang’aa so that its production can be regulated. On July 22nd the same year, Sam Ikwaye, the Executive Officer of the Pubs and Restaurants Association of Kenya (PERAK) was reported saying that “the proposed laws(Alcoholic Drinks Control Act) will do to the alcohol industry what the “Michuki Rules” did to the public transport sector.” However, we should note that the cause/effect of either vary significantly. Ideologically, the new alcohol law is designed to limit drinking hours in an effort to allow for more time to be spent on productive activities. In a society characterized with high unemployment, and rising cost of living, compounded by increased taxation on alcoholic drinks, it will be difficult to implement the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act because, frequent alcohol consumers who can now not afford the bottle would compulsively opt for cheaper nonstandard alcoholic drinks, which are still highly unregulated, thus reduced revenue collection from licensed alcohol. “Increase of excise duty on alcohol is ‘counter productive’ and likely to reduce government revenue from the industry which is one of the major contributors”, said Consultancy firm Deloitte and Touche Kenya.

Instead of aggressively enforcing regulation of the alcohol industry by strict adherence to directives by the district liquor licensing boards, the government should consider a more overt system to address the issue of alcohol abuse by establishing adequate and affordable rehabilitation facilities and advocate for aggressive civil education on the economic, social, and psychological effects of alcohol abuse. Do not bite the hand that feeds you, and two wrongs never make a right.

References:

High Alcohol Tax Likely to Affect Revenue-Analyst allAfrica.com June 10, 2011

License Chang’aa, Nacada tells State Daily Nation March 22, 2010

New alcohol law hard to effect, say players Daily Nation July 22, 2010