The hour of ‘beer pressure’: Why rise in Covid-19 cases reinforced what many already knew

Addiction is real [Photo: Shutterstock]

The nation waited eagerly for the 10th Presidential speech on the Covid-19 update. As soon as he walked to the podium without one of his notable and famed Kitenge shirts, players in the entertainment industry could already predict things would not be rosy.  “There will be no sale of alcohol drinks and beverages in eateries and restaurants across the territory of the Republic of Kenya, effective at midnight (Tuesday), for the next 30 days. Bars shall remain closed until further notice,” read President Uhuru Kenyatta in a statement on Monday, a proclamation that virtually broke the spine of showbiz.

The statement sealed the fate of an industry that has been smarting from the effects of the pandemic, ever since a dusk to dawn curfew was imposed in March. Last week, the Pubs, Entertainment and Restaurant Association of Kenya (Perak) had put the Government on notice, estimating that the banning of consumption of alcohol inside their premises will result in loss of revenues to the tune of Sh50 billion. In addition, Perak chair, Alice Opee added, 500,000 Kenyans risked losing their jobs.