No alcohol for drunk customer, says new law

Bar owners found selling beer to intoxicated customers will be fined. [iStockphoto]

Licensed bar owners in Nyeri County found selling beer to an already intoxicated customer will be liable to a fine of Sh10,000.

This is part of the regulations enshrined in the Nyeri County Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, 2023, which was signed into law by Governor Mutahi Kahiga.

"Any licensee who gives an alcoholic drink to a person already in a state of intoxication or by any means encourages or incites him to consume an alcoholic drink commits an offence and shall be liable, upon conviction, to a fine not exceeding Sh10,000," reads the new law in part.

Manufacturers who distribute illicit liquor in the county will be fined Sh10 million or imprisoned for 10 years or both.

Any person while manufacturing an alcoholic drink adulterates the drink by adding impurities, prohibited substances or additives commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding Sh10 million and upon conviction imprisonment of 10 years or both according to the new law.

The County Assembly recently endorsed the Bill that aims to guide the management, control, licensing, and regulation of the production, sale, distribution, and consumption of alcoholic drinks.

The Bill was sponsored by the County Assembly's Legal Affairs, Public Service and Administration Committee chairman Clement Warutere.

Governor Kahiga has issued an executive order curtailing all the staff of the county government from engaging in the alcohol business.

Nyeri Town MP Maina Mathenge said: "Some police stations have been converted to toll stations. We need to up our game if we want to win this fight."