Personal discipline, and not round the clock surveillance, is required to reverse the current trend of liquor consumption in Thika west according to Thika West Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Jeremiah Gicheru.
While addressing Bar and Restaurants stakeholders in Thika town during the workshop on alcoholic beverage outlets and distributors on Tuesday, the DCC said that there was a major problem of liquor consumption and if not tamed it will ruin a whole generation.
He said that stern action will be taken against wines and spirit operators who continue selling liquor to school going students.
Gicheru further said that liquor sellers should have a moral obligation that deters them from selling liquor to students arguing that no amount of policing would stop money-hungry business persons from spoiling a generation by selling them intoxicants.
The DCC announced that several licenses for liquor outlets have been cancelled in Thika but that has not stopped liquor consumption in the area. He called for concerted effort by all stakeholders to reverse the damages caused by liquor consumption region.
“We have raided illicit brew dens which have reduced consumption of illicit liquor in the area but wines and spirits outlets are proving to be a challenge as most proprietors were circumventing their license specifications with impunity,” added Gicheru.
Thika west OCPD Shadrack Maithya who was in the same meeting said that in partnership with the community policing unit they have gone a long way in taming waywardness in the area.
He further cautioned bar owners and wines and spirit shop owners that if found selling liquor during odd hours their licenses will be revoked.