By NDERITU GICHURE

Nyeri County: Bar owners in Nyeri County have rejected a proposal meant to reduce operating hours for their businesses.

They unanimously rejected a draft Alcohol Drinks Control Bill proposed for the area and want to allowed to sell alcohol for 24 hours.

At a one day consultative forum for stakeholders to discuss the Bill convened by the County Executive member for Public Administration Priscilla Muthoni, the bar owners said the draft law would kill their businesses.

James Mwaura, a representative of the bar owners, lamented that the proposed Alcoholics Drinks Control Bill 2013 sought to stifle their business by introducing stiffer regulations.

READ MORE

 Smart investment, imagination and willpower will revive Nyeri

 Governor Mutahi Kahiga knows the value of 'good trouble'

 Nyeri County lays plans for slum upgrading

 Temple Road Primary: Famed pre-colonial era school that has maintained high academic bar

‘“Among the proposals in the draft Bill is cancellation of restaurant licences that allowed bar owners to sell alcohol to patrons who order meals outside the stipulated hours of 5.00 pm to 11.00 pm on weekdays and 2.00 pm to 11.00 pm on weekends,” Mwaura said.

The Bill also proposes stiff penalties for those found flouting the regulations including selling alcohol to underage persons and operating bars in next to educational institutions.

Mwaura lamented that bar owners would incur huge losses if the new regulations are effected.

Recover expenses

“We have installed cooking appliances and employed kitchen staff; how do we recover the expenses and be able to pay them salaries if we’ll be only allowed to sell beer for only six hours.” Mwaura wondered.

Anne Muchiru, a bar owner from Mathira, called for a review of the draft law, saying the document failed to factor in the economic aspect of the beer industry in the county.

Kiragu Wachira, a legal expert who was involved in the drafting of the Bill, told the bar owners that it is only Parliament that can reduce or extend the stipulated hours for selling alcohol.

Education stakeholders led by Othaya Boys’ Secondary School principal David Mureithi however defended the proposed law, saying it would help curb underage drinking.

Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua formed a task force a month ago to come up with a law to regulate sale and consumption of beer in the area where many residents are alcoholics.

The bill is waiting to be tabled before the County Assembly.