A section of civil society organisations has called for a review of the tax policy on alcoholic substances to curb the drug menace in the country.

Led by the International Institute of Legislative Affairs (ILA) and Students Campaign Against Drugs (SCAD), the lobby groups want the current excise taxes and pricing on alcohol increased as part of a renewed strategy to regulate consumption rates.

Speaking during a sensitization forum on alcohol harm in Kisumu, they felt that raising the taxes on alcoholic substances would help reduce consumption and hence minimize the harms associated with alcohol in society.

Alcohol availability

ILA chief executive officer Celine Awuor noted that the move will help strengthen restrictions on alcohol availability and thereby significantly reduce harmful effects.

She claimed that the effects of alcohol use had left many families ruined while asking the government to incorporate policy interventions in the ongoing tax reforms to deal with the problem.

“We need as a matter of agency effective policies that will address rampant and harmful alcohol use.

The increase of excise tax on alcoholic drinks is considered the most cost-effective way of addressing the problem of alcohol in society by reducing its consumption,” she said.

Advertising restrictions

Similarly, the groups also asked the government to enforce comprehensive restrictions on alcohol advertising and promotion to mitigate the dangers.

They expressed concerns that extreme marketing, especially through online platforms, exposes the vulnerable population to the dangers of being initiated into the consumption of alcohol.

Further, the non-state organisations want government agencies to be proactive in implementing outlaid alcohol control regulations and measures to save lives.

Awuor claimed that efforts to control harmful alcohol use were being derailed by the illegal licensing of liquor outlets.

She urged for enhanced public sensitization on alcohol harm.

“We strongly believe that comprehensive implementation of these stringent measures will go a long way to control alcohol use and save society from related harms,” she added.