The Meru County government has closed down about 200 bars this year after being found to flout various licensing conditions and safety standards.
The Meru County Alcoholic Drinks Control Board CEO Dr Mbabu Muguna said the ongoing crackdown is targeting outlets that fail to adhere to the laid down legal operations standards.
Dr Muguna said the board will not interfere with traders operating legal, compliant businesses, but will continue to act firmly against those who operate outside the law, sell illicit alcohol and ignore basic hygiene standards.
Speaking in Meru town, Dr Muguna clarified that alcohol consumption is legally acceptable by both the county and national government noting that the only problem is when people use the business in the wrong way.
“To be honest alcohol consumption is permitted by law. The board’s responsibility is to curb practices that put consumers and communities at risk. The bars targeted in recent closures were found selling expired drinks, illicit brews or operating in poorly maintained premises.
We don’t have any problem with our business people. We only have problems with people who love using shortcuts,” said Dr Muguna.
Dr Muguna pointed out that the board’s work is often driven by petitions from concerned residents who witness the harmful effects of alcohol abuse in their villages.
This year alone, he said, the board has received petitions from over twenty local groups reporting cases of widespread alcoholism leading to various effects including young men becoming unable to marry and rising social problems in villages.
In efforts to handle the cases effectively, Dr Muguna said that the board collaborates with national government agencies, sub-county regulatory committees and security officials to inspect premises and enforce closures where necessary.
Dr Muguna cited Mikumbune area as one example.
“Mikumbune had seventeen bars but after inspection, we left around seven bars. Therefore, we always listen to business people and citizens, but we can’t allow any person to mess other people’s lives using their business,” he said.
Beyond enforcement, Dr Muguna said the board also plays a role in educating the public about responsible alcohol consumption and supporting rehabilitation for those already struggling with addiction.
He appealed to bar owners who may have contributed to rising alcoholism in their communities to help by referring affected individuals for treatment, acknowledging that rehabilitation can be costly.
“We would be so happy if bar owners who have played a role in destroying lives could help us take these people to rehab so that their lives can reform,” he said.
He added that the board’s main concern is not businesses that operate within the law, but rather those producing or selling suspicious and unsafe alcoholic drinks.
He urged the public to keep sharing information with government offices, including the chiefs’ offices, OCS and the board itself, to support ongoing enforcement efforts.
Dr Muguna warned that the consequences of alcohol abuse in the county are increasingly visible, pointing to worrying statistics and trends.
He noted that about 23 percent of workers who have lost their jobs have been affected by alcoholism, while roughly four out of every 100 deaths are linked to alcohol-related causes.
Hospitals across the region, he added, also continue to report a rise in illnesses tied to excessive drinking.
“Alcohol is also the cause of all those other drugs like bhang. That’s why we appeal to the people to give us information to help us end this menace,” he said.
Dr Muguna reiterated that the board welcomes business people who meet legal standards, stressing that enforcement targets only those who choose shortcuts at the expense of public health.
