The National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) chairman, John Mututho, has supported Gatundu North MP Francis Kigo’s efforts to formulate a bill to regulate alcoholic drinks.
Speaking on Monday at Gatundu Hospital, Kiambu County where he visited survivors of alcohol suspected to have been laced with a poisonous substance on Sunday, Mututho said lack of rules in the alcoholic industry is to blame for deaths of Kenyans who consume illicit liquor.
“Lack of rules in alcoholic industry has seen the rising deaths of youth occurring due to unregulated liquors,” said Mututho.
In the latest incident of lethal liquor, two people died in Gatundu North, after drinking alcohol suspected to have been laced with a poisonous substance.
Mututho said that bill should prescribe the recommended levels of alcohol in alcoholic drinks, which shall not exceed the levels set by the World Health Organization.
He also said the bill should emphasise on the labeling, packaging, sale or distribution of alcoholic drinks.
“This will ensure that the purchaser or consumer of an alcoholic drink is not misled by its quality, or quantity”, said Mututho.
He said that the bill should also address the forms of applications, and licenses to ensure only those who have complied with the regulations are issued with liquor permits.