Safina Party deputy party leader Willis Otieno has opposed the proposal by NACADA to raise the legal age for alcohol consumption from 18 to 21.

In a statement released on Saturday, August 2, 2025, Otieno described the proposal as a contradiction, pointing out that 18-year-olds are already recognised as adults under the Constitution.

“Raising the legal drinking age to 21 while still treating 18-year-olds as adults under the Constitution is a contradiction that exposes the shallowness of our policymaking,” Otieno said.

 He explained that at this age, Kenyans are legally allowed to marry, vote, pay taxes, join the military, be tried as adults in court, and even contest for certain public offices.

He noted that it was illogical for the government to assign such responsibilities to 18-year-olds yet deny them the right to decide on matters such as alcohol consumption.

“At 18, a Kenyan can marry, vote, pay taxes, be tried as an adult in court, join the military, and even run for certain public offices. Yet the same government now wants to say, “You’re adult enough to die for your country but not adult enough to decide whether to drink a beer?” he added.

Otieno further stated that if the concern is alcohol addiction or irresponsible marketing, the solution is not to arbitrarily change the legal drinking age.

 He urged the government to instead focus on enforcing existing laws, regulating the alcohol industry more effectively, and investing in public health education.

“If the concern is addiction or irresponsible alcohol marketing, then the solution is not to shift goalposts arbitrarily; it is to enforce existing laws, regulate the industry better, and invest in public health education. We don’t fix societal decay by infantilising legal adults.” He added.

He concluded by urging policymakers to stop making arbitrary decisions and begin legislating with reason, emphasising that infantilising legal adults does not address the root causes of societal problems related to alcohol.

NACADA’s proposal

This comes days after NACADA proposed raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21 under its 2025 National Policy for the Prevention, Management, and Control of Alcohol, Drugs, and Substance Abuse. The proposal aims to limit alcohol access among youth and reduce early substance abuse.

 If adopted, anyone under 21 would be barred from entering alcohol-selling outlets, even with adults. NACADA notes that the proposal, which could significantly shape youth behaviour and drug policy, will undergo public consultation before becoming law.