Group lobbies for higher taxes on spirits

A lobby group fighting alcoholism now wants the government to increase taxes on high-alcohol spirits to make them less accessible to the youth.

The Kenya Alcohol Control and Policy Alliance (Kapa) complained that students have been hooked to cheap liquor, which has been blamed for a number of deaths.

“Kapa support the Cabinet Secretary for Finance for increasing sin tax targeting tobacco and alcohol use. We urge the Cabinet Secretary to make provisions that directly target the sale of spirits in the Excise Duty Bill, 2015,” said Ms Elizabeth Ogott, one of the coordinators.

She said students in secondary schools and universities were more likely to purchase the spirits as opposed to beer, which was more expensive.

Raising the price of spirits would reduce their intake by the learners, she added.

TAX INCREASE
“Making the price of spirits harder to access through tax increase would continue to support policy and legislations in place ensuring alcohol inaccessibility to minors and students,” said Ms Ogott when she speak to the media on Tuesday in Nairobi.

The activist also lamented that less than 20 counties had enacted laws on alcohol control while those that had such laws were finding it difficult to implement them.

“The officers working to enforce these legislations need capacity building and technical support to effectively implement compliance with the county laws,” she added.

She expressed optimism following a move by the President to assent to the Alcoholic Drinks Control (Amendment) Act, 2015, which she said recognises alcoholism as a disease.

“We urge all county governments to appreciate this amended legislation by ensuring that the funds raised under the various County Alcoholic Drinks Control Acts get to the stated objectives of establishing rehabilitation centres that are accessible without prohibitive costs,” she added.