Embu County Revises Alcohol Drinking Hours to “Rescue Idle Youth”

Embu Members of County Assembly have passed a proposed amendment in the Embu County Alcoholic Drinks Control Bill, 2019 to have drinking hours in the county revised from the normal 5 pm to 11 pm on weekdays.

Kiambere MCA and County Assembly Trade Committee Chairman, Lenny Mwaniki who sponsored the amendment said they needed to revise the drinking hours from starting at 5 pm and from now on start at 3 pm and end at 11 pm on weekdays.

Mwaniki recommended that consumption and sale of alcoholic drinks in hotels, restaurants and lodges should not be restricted, saying that hotels, restaurants, and lodges should be allowed to sell alcohol throughout the day, 24 hours during weekdays.

During weekends and public holidays, Mwaniki recommends that bars in Embu county be allowed to sell alcohol from 11am to 11pm.

Peter Murithi, MCA Mbeti North said that the revision of the drinking hours in the county was in an aim to rescue idle youth from illicit liquors that have been a menace in the county.

MCAs who supported the amendment have also said that the revision will benefit those in the alcohol business by increasing their profits considering that their operating licenses are more expensive than other trading permits.

According to Evurore MCA Duncan Mbui, the new drinking hours will give government agencies, who often work until 5 pm, an opportunity to inspect the cleanliness of drinking establishments and the quality of alcohol sold in the region.

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