Former National Campaign against Drug Abuse (NACADA) Chairman John Mututho has opposed the latest move by the government to increase prices of alcohol.
Speaking to the press in Nakuru town, Mututho said the move to increase the tax on alcoholic beverages will encourage production and consumption of cheap illicit brew.
Mututho said the sale and consumption of second-generation alcohol will increase if consumers cannot afford genuine alcohol.
He urged the government to lower taxes imposed on approved alcoholic drinks which will go a long way in the fight against illicit brew.
“The new policy will promote the use of unsafe traditional brews and the development of harmful counterfeits. I totally disagree with the move to increase duty on alcohol,” said Mututho.
Kenya Breweries Limited announced new alcohol prices that took effect on July 8 following last month’s directive from the Treasury to raise excise duty on beer and other alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and tobacco products.
With the new announcement, a half litre of Tusker Lager will now retail at Sh160, Tusker Cider Sh170, Guinness Stout Sh180, White Cap Lager Sh170, Balozi Lager Sh150, Smirnoff Ice Black Guarana Sh160 and Smirnoff Ice Black will retail at Sh140.
“Excise duties on alcohol and tobacco will be increased as follows: a 750ml bottle of wine will have an excise duty of Sh136, which is Sh18 more from the current rate; the duty of a bottle of whisky will go up by Sh24 to Sh182 for a 750ml bottle,” said Treasury CS Henry Rotich during the 2019/20 budget reading.