Kenya: new Alcoholic Drinks Control Act might have negative impact on tourism

Kenya has implemented an Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, which might have some rather negative impact on the country's tourism industry. The new law, made primarily to contain the excesses of alcohol abuse in the country and reduce the health implications of drinking, came into force on 22 Nov 2010.

update (17 Feb 2011): The Kenyan High Court ordered the full implementation of the alcohol control law on 24 Jan 2011. In the meantime Nakumatt, a Kenyan supermarket chain, is on course to conclude a major restructuring to establish special alcohol and related substances sales points in all its local branches. The Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF) is still regarding the alcohol law and its implementation as major concern for the sector especially at the coast, although hotels, members clubs, airlines, rail service and cruise ship operators are actually allowed to sell alcoholic drinks any time of the day (not confirmed!). 

The Control Act contains of regulations such as:

• Bars to open at 5pm on weekdays and close at 11pm
• Bar owners will be fined heavily for serving drunks with more alcohol
• Consumers will not be allowed to buy alcohol in the supermarket
• That there will be no alcohol selling outlets in schools and within a radius of 300 metres from any learning institution
• more [...]

Kenya's tourism sector umbrella body, the Kenya Tourism Federation (KTF), is holding consultative meetings to look into how the new law will affect hotels and restaurants and the domino effect on the economy. All affected parties, such as breweries, the hotel sector etc., were given a window of nine months to comply with the Act’s requirements - hopefully an opportunity to put forth their concerns and also enough time for dialogues to reach working solutions. The