The public Health department in Bondo sub-County has raised an alarm over the rise of illicit alcoholic drinks in most leisure joints in the region.
Sub- County Public Health Officer Mr. Walter Ongoro says there is a big stock of illegal alcoholic products being sold to unsuspecting consumers in drinking joints in Bondo town and other major centres. He says most of the alcoholic products have not undergone testing by the Kenya Bureau of Standards hence pose serious health risks.
“To make it worse, they are even being sold to children less than 18yrs,” He said. The public health team carried out a swoop where they impounded an assortment of expired alcoholic drinks including illegal alcoholic brands.
Some of the confiscated alcohol is suspected to have been smuggled into the country through the porous beaches of Lake Victoria from the neighbouring Uganda. He said most bars and restaurants were operating illegally without valid license from the liquor licensing Board. He thus warned locals to be cautious of suspicious alcoholic brands in the market whose manufacturing firms are not clearly indicated on the products.
He said punitive measures in line with the law will be taken on the unscrupulous traders.