Activists call for excise tax increase to help fight substance menace

A group of civil society activists in Kisumu County have called for the increase in excise taxes on alcoholic substances in renewed measures to curb the drugs menace.

Led by Blue Cross Kenya’s project manager Brian Magwaro, Students Campaign Against Drugs (SCAD) programmes officer Benjamin Odhiambo and Renaissance Treatment and Rehabilitation centre executive director Lilian Gitau, the lobby groups want the current taxes on beer, wines and spirits increased by at least Sh56.98, Sh97.37 and Sh142.56 per litre respectively.

Currently, excise taxes on beer, wines and spirits are Sh142.44, Sh243.43 and Sh356.42 per litre, respectively.

Taxes on alcohol

In statement issued at a joint press conference in Kisumu town yesterday, they felt that raising the taxes on the alcoholic drinks will help reduce the consumption rates and hence address the problem of alcohol in the society.

“We recommend enhanced and increased excise taxes on alcoholic drinks and beverages on the grounds of them being unhealthy products. The increase of excise tax on alcoholic drinks is considered the most effective way of addressing the problem of alcohol in the society by reducing its consumption,” read the statement.

Coming against enhanced efforts by government agencies to fight illicit brews across the country, the civil society organisations officials also proposed total ban on online promotion and advertisements of alcoholic substances.

As such, they implored on the government to enhance legal and administrative measures to curb online marketing of alcoholic drinks and beverages, a situation they said exposes the vulnerable population to the dangers of being initiated to the consumption of alcohol.

“We believe the implementation of these stringent measures will go a long way to enhance alcohol control,” added the statement.

The Ministry of Interior among other state agencies are doing an overhaul of drug abuse and illicit brews in the country.