NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 21 — Students Campaign Against Drugs (SCAD) and the International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA) are advocating for higher health taxes on alcohol in Kenya, aiming to reduce alcohol consumption and related harms.
In a joint statement, the organizations highlighted that raising alcohol prices through health taxes could discourage heavy drinking, particularly among youth, while mitigating the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
They urged Parliamentarians and government officials to support these tax hikes, citing public support from a recent poll in which 65% of Kenyans believed that increased taxes would reduce consumption among high-risk groups.
The institutions also noted that health taxes could generate crucial revenue for public health services and programs.
According to the World Health Organization, such taxes are cost-effective in preventing NCDs, particularly benefiting lower-income households.
Currently, 1 in 8 Kenyans use alcohol, and 1 in 20 suffer from alcohol use disorders.
Despite these statistics, Kenya has not raised alcohol taxes since 2022, with inflation adjustments removed in the Finance Act 2023.
SCAD and IILA believe adopting evidence-based approaches will help address the country’s alcohol-related health issues, including liver diseases, domestic violence, and accidents.
