NACADA To Raise Age Of Alcohol Users To 21 Under New Policy

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) is poised to implement a new wave of stringent regulations governing the sale and consumption of alcohol and other substances across Kenya. These measures are outlined in the recently approved National Policy on the Prevention of Alcohol, Drugs and Substance Use (2025), which the Authority believes will be crucial in tackling the nation’s escalating alcohol consumption crisis, particularly among its youth.

The comprehensive policy proposes several strict rules, including:

• Banning the sale of alcohol near schools and places of worship.
• Instilling a zero-tolerance approach to irresponsible alcohol and drug promotion.
• Restricting the sale of alcohol to individuals under the age of 21.
• Enhancing protection for those who choose to abstain from alcohol and drugs.
• Creating special safeguards for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and other vulnerable populations.

The Cabinet officially approved this pivotal policy on June 24, granting NACADA the necessary authority to enforce these new regulations across the country.

This renewed focus on stricter controls comes in the wake of concerning data revealed by NACADA’s “Status of Drugs and Substance Use Among University Students in Kenya” report, launched in February 2025. The study, which surveyed 15,678 undergraduate students from both public and private universities, highlighted that alcohol remains the most commonly used substance among university students, with a staggering 87.3% reporting consumption. Cigarettes followed at 64.4%, and shisha at 41.2%.

The research also shed light on the accessibility of these substances, indicating that 66.4% of respondents acquired drugs or substances from their friends, while 59.3% sourced them from neighborhood canteens and bars. These findings underscore the urgent need for the stricter measures now proposed by NACADA to curb substance abuse at its various entry points.