The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) on Friday, July 24, issued a warning to Kenyans drinking alcohol at home.
In a statement to newsrooms, the Authority's chairperson Prof. Mabel Imbuga stated that the growing trend of alcohol consumption from home was exposing children and young people to underage drinking.
"Drinking at home also undermines the protective home environment for the pupils and students who are staying at home because of the containment measures imposed by the government to check the spread of Covid-19," she stated.
The NACADA boss observed that the proposed regulations banning the sale of alcohol to sit-in customers at restaurants, eateries, bars, food courts, entertainment joints, supermarkets, wines and spirits or any other business establishments would most likely lead to an increase in home drinking.
"We are strongly opposed to the consumption of alcohol and drugs through organized groups drinking in homes in the presence of children. We advise parents to take advantage of the situation to create an alcohol-free home environment as well as build closer relationships with their children," she conveyed.
Prof Mabel noted that parents and caregivers have a primary responsibility to be vigilant and protect children from access and exposure to alcoholic drinks and other substances of abuse.
The authority appealed to members of the public to report cases putting children at risk through their toll-free line No. 1192 (Monday to Friday during working hours) or to any National Government Administration Officers.
A survey conducted by NACADA on the prevalence of drug abuse in Secondary Schools in 2017 and Primary Schools in 2019 clearly showed that the home environments had increasingly become a risk factor as many of the respondents indicated that they were initiated into alcohol and drug use at home.
A draft proposal under the Public Health Act, Cap 242 surfaced where the Health Ministry is looking to restrict the sale of alcohol.
Ministry of Health acting Public Health Director, Francis Kuria on July 21 hinted that the Act was looking to limit the sale of alcohol to takeaways only to reduce the number of people crammed up in bars.
At the same time, school going children will have to spend more time at home after Education CS George Magoha in June announced that all basic learning institutions would be reopened in January 2021.
The CS has on several occasions requested parents to take charge of the safety of their children during this pandemic period and even spend time with them.
"I want to state without fear of contradiction that parents must change their mindset and love their children by creating time. Love is measured by the number of minutes or hours you spend with your child and not by the amount of money you give your child,” he advised parents.
