NACADA To Remove All Billboards Promoting Alcohol & Erected Near Schools

The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has revealed that it will go after all billboards promoting alcoholic drinks and alcohol use, erected near learning institutions in Kenya.

Speaking to Viral Tea, an official at the authority revealed that NACADA would coordinate multi-agency teams to pull down those billboards already erected.

In a statement subsequently sent to Viral Tea on Monday, May 20, NACADA took note of the increased promotion of alcoholic drinks and alcohol use through billboards erected near learning institutions across the country.

The authority lamented that this has been observed to be happening, despite the law proscribing advertisements that are misleading or deceptive or that are likely to create an erroneous impression about the characteristics, health effects, health hazards, or social effects of the alcoholic drink.

"Exposure to outdoor alcohol advertising around schools is associated with youth intentions to use alcohol noting that the current age of initiation to alcohol use in the country is seven (7) years.

"In line with the Alcoholic Drinks Promotion Regulations, NACADA is under the relevant provisions of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2010 coordinating with relevant stakeholders in the country to enforce measures that will remove all the billboards near learning institutions. These enforcement activities will involve all respective National and County Government authorities," the statement read in part.

According to NACADA, schools should be secure environments that foster learning and personal growth, free from any influences that may contribute to harmful behaviours.

"The presence of alcohol advertisements near educational institutions, therefore, undermines these endeavours by normalizing the consumption of alcohol and portraying it as an appealing and glamorous choice.

"NACADA calls on advertising agencies and businesses to exercise social responsibility by not erecting alcohol advertisements near learning institutions. By doing so, they can help protect youth from the negative impacts of alcohol marketing and support their journey towards healthy and productive futures," added the statement.

The Authority's survey released in September 2023 classified alcohol as the most abused drug in Kenya, with one in every 8 Kenyans aged between 15 and 65 years currently consuming alcohol.

The national survey on the “Status of Drugs and Substance Use (DSU) in Kenya, 2022” took into consideration about 3,199,119 people who are currently using alcohol.

"Thirteen (13) per cent of the population aged 15 – 24 years reported lifetime use of alcohol. Males had a higher prevalence of lifetime use of alcohol (20.0%) compared to females (7.3%).

"Those in the urban areas had a higher prevalence of lifetime use of alcohol (19.8%) compared to those in the rural areas (9.2%)," read the report in part.

Sample of alcohol bottles in a liquor shop. /FILE