Murang’a Bar owners raise alarm over counterfeit alcoholic brands

Murang’a Bar Owners have raised concern over what they claimed as an increase in the sales of counterfeit brews in the County.

The association accused proprietors of mushrooming wines and spirit outlets saying they perpetuated the selling of substandard liquor drinks which poses a health hazard to consumers.

In a press conference on Wednesday at a Murang’a hotel, the members of the bar owners’ association led by their chairman Simon Njoroge accused those behind the business of selling fake alcoholic drinks saying they are putting consumers’ lives in danger.

The substandard alcoholic drinks, Njoroge said are tainting names of business people who are selling quality liquor.

“We are perturbed by increased selling of substandard liquor in the county. The trend has gone up especially during the festive season and we can point fingers at the mushrooming wines and spirit dens, where the owners want to make quick money by flouting liquor laws,” noted Njoroge.

The chairman said the majority of those dealing with fake liquor are not their members and called on security agencies to crackdown on individuals supplying and distributing counterfeits.

“Our community needs to be protected from consuming substandard liquor which may affect their health. Our policy is that, if one of our members is found dealing with illicit brews, they will be removed from the association,” he added.

He continued: “we shall publish and shame any of our members who will be found selling illegal alcoholic brands or flouting liquor laws.”

Njoroge added that they will assist relevant government agencies to enforce liquor regulations that have been put in place and reveal where the said regulations are being flouted.

He further said they have written to the local county assembly suggesting some amendments to the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act 2014 to seal loopholes exploited by the illegal operators.

“We hope the Assembly will publish the suggested amendments for the public participation and amendments as required by the law,” he further noted.

Speaking during the same occasion, Murang’a County Executive for Health and Sanitation Mr. Joseph Mbai decried increased abuse of alcohol in the county blaming wines and spirit shops for flouting their license directives.

Mbai said no wine and spirit shop is supposed to sell in retail, observing that currently most of the shops are flouting that directive.

“My office has received a list of the number of bars which have flouted their license directives. We will partner with security agents and apprehend the culprits. Licenses of those found guilty will be canceled,” said Mbai.

He further warned that no alcoholic drinks are supposed to be transported at night claiming most counterfeit liquor is being delivered under the cover of darkness.

Liquor, he said, should be delivered from 7am to 6pm to ensure the distributors are monitored and what type of liquor they are selling.

Mbai asked members of the association to be vigilant and help in inspecting the kind of alcohol stocked in shelves.