Traders Decry ‘Punitive’ Liquor Store Closures Near Schools
Liquor stores shut down within 500 yards of school gates spark fury among traders who call it a ‘draconian’ penalty.
New regulations aimed at closing more than 2000 outlets selling alcohol within 400 metres from schools have been criticized by bar owners as arbitrary.
Are the Closures Justified?
Traders from 42 counties protested during the Bar Hotel and liquor traders association annual general meeting held in Murang’a County. They argue that many bars were opened prior to schools were set in the same location; this they said gives the directive a ‘ backlash ’ look .
Mapping by the Ministry of Education showed that, 2,252 schools are sandwiched within the liquor trading zones and endangering students with influences such as alcohol, violence and disturbances that accompany the outlets.
Government’s Stance
Interior Permanent Secretary Raymond Omollo stood in defence for the closures arguing that they were in accordance with the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, which bars selling of alcohol within a radius of 300 metres from schools that host learners who are below the legal drinking age. Omollo stated:
“This directive will also protect the learners and enhance the success of the governments 100% transition plan.”
Traders do not however agree with the enforcement of the rule arguing that applying it without regard to history is unforgiving.
Crackdown: New Beginning of a History or Just Repeating the Same History
However, it emerged that, unlike other occasions where such measures were effected, many of such strategies have not been complied with. That is not going to happen anytime soon; however, a mass campaign called the National Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse has been initiated across the country. CEO Anthony Omerikwa warned:
“Non-adherent outlets will be closed; alcohol advertising billboards close to schools will also be pulled down.”
Will this crackdown now be the one to do what the others could not and stamp out these attacks?
Bar Owners Call for Dialogue
Association chairman Simon Njoroge appealed for a resolution through mutual agreement, emphasizing:
“We wish members to act according to law, but this process has to be equitable.”
During the inspections, bar operators were also concerned about corruption: they claimed that bribery determines licensing outcomes. They also pointed out shockingly high licensing fees as in Murang’a County the small village bars pay almost twice the fees charged in Kisumu or Kwale.
The Way Forward
Bar owners and traders proposed several solutions, including:
Continuous Inspection: To eliminate corruption, the BFAR disclosed that it threatened to turn its inspections into a routine process managed by the Department of Public Health.
Fair Licensing Fees: Consideration of the licensing charges, with a view of making them cheaper as those charged in nearby counties.
Counterfeit Control: Cutting on counterfeit alcohol by association with the Anti-Counterfeit Authority.
Speaking during the sitting, County Secretary Newton Mwangi assured that he will seek opinion of the various players about the fees to be charged on the licenses while former CPI Kamande Mwangi said that the trader in the liquor industry should be treated fairly.