Dagoretti North Member of Parliament Beatrice Elachi has thrown her weight behind the recent proposals by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse (NACADA), stating that those complaining could be selling alcohol to minors.

Speaking during an interview on K24 TV on Thursday, July 31, 2025, Elachi stated that she could not reconcile why the country was irked by the proposals, which she says would preserve its own people.

“I support the regulations. Let us agree that there are some areas we have to close in on in terms of how one gets access to alcohol. I don’t know why in Africa, where we have more problems, is where we fight against everything that can secure us. Let us just do like it is in Europe,” Elachi said.

Legal age

“In Europe, you need an ID to show your age; here, we will lie so that you get alcohol; that’s the problem. Anyone complaining here means they normally sell to children.”

NACADA on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, presented a raft of proposals to be considered for legislation.

In the raft of proposals that NACADA made, it suggested that the minimum legal age for handling, purchasing, consuming, and selling alcohol should be 21, from the current age of 18.

Similarly, NACADA proposed a ban on the use of direct and indirect price promotions, discount sales, provision of free alcohol, sales below cost, and flat rates for unlimited drinking. 

Schools policy

The policy equally reinforces the 2010 policy directive that alcohol-selling outlets should not be within a 300-metre distance near schools with students up to 18 years old.

This policy proposal applies to nurseries, primary, secondary, and other learning institutions for persons under the age of eighteen years, as per the existing Alcoholic Drinks Control Act of 2010.

NACADA has also recommended prohibiting outdoor alcohol advertising, social media endorsements, and celebrity promotions of alcohol, particularly during children’s programming, school events, and public holidays.

Specifically, it bans advertisements within 300 meters of learning institutions and all forms of alcohol marketing within schools and educational settings.