Nairobi cracks down on underage alcohol sales with tougher licensing rules
Nairobi County is preparing to enforce stricter rules on alcohol sales, particularly for wine and spirits outlets. The move comes amid concerns that some shops may be selling total wine and alcohol online to underage customers. A new bill is now under review to address these issues, aiming to replace existing regulations with tougher enforcement measures for alcohol online sales. The Nairobi City County Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Bill (Repeal), 2025 is currently being examined by the Sectoral Committee on Culture and Community Services. Official records on liquor licensing in Nairobi remain unclear, with neither the Nairobi County Government nor the Kenya Revenue Authority publishing detailed annual statistics on approved or revoked alcohol sales licences from 2021 to 2025. The push for reform follows reports of non-compliance with age restrictions, with some retailers, especially those selling wine and spirits, facing accusations of selling alcohol online to minors without proper checks. If passed, the new bill would introduce tighter controls on alcohol distribution in Nairobi, with the county needing to improve transparency in licensing data to ensure compliance for total wine and alcohol online sales. Authorities have yet to confirm when the revised regulations will take effect.
