In a major shift aimed at protecting young people from alcohol-related harm, the government has raised the legal drinking age from 18 to 21, barring anyone under the age of 21 from consuming alcohol or entering alcohol-selling premises under any circumstance.

The new directive, issued by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada), forms part of a wider crackdown on alcohol and substance abuse, particularly among the youth.

The policy prohibits those under 21 from accessing alcohol outlets, even when accompanied by an adult.

“Additionally, no person under the age of 21 will be allowed to access or enter any alcohol-selling outlets — whether accompanied or unaccompanied by an appropriate adult,” the policy states.

Entertainment joints and alcohol vendors have now been directed to strictly enforce the age restriction by denying entry or service to anyone below the new threshold. This brings an end to the long-standing standard that placed the legal drinking age at 18.

According to Nacada, the new approach is designed to reduce the early introduction of young people to alcohol — a factor linked to long-term addiction, risky behaviour, and various health complications.

The agency says delaying the age of first alcohol use will help reduce the rate of substance dependence and its wider social consequences.

The policy also introduces sweeping changes to how alcohol is promoted in Kenya. Under the new rules, celebrities, influencers, entertainers, and public personalities — including those in sports and media — are banned from endorsing or promoting alcohol and drugs.

The move is intended to disrupt the influence of public figures who often shape youth attitudes toward drinking.

The Authority said these combined measures — age restriction and advertising bans — are meant to weaken the social appeal of alcohol and limit young people’s exposure to both the products and the messaging around them.

The directive follows a Nacada report released in February 2025 titled Status of Drugs and Substance Use Among University Students in Kenya, which confirmed alcohol as the most commonly used substance among university students.

According to the report, 87.3 per cent of students admitted to using alcohol, followed by 64.4 per cent for cigarettes, and 41.2 per cent for shisha. The data was gathered from a survey of 15,678 undergraduate students across public and private universities in Kenya.

The study also found that 66.4 per cent of students said they sourced drugs and substances from friends, while 59.3 per cent pointed to nearby canteens and bars as their suppliers.

To reinforce the campaign, Nacada has been actively engaging communities and partnering with religious groups to increase awareness and discourage substance use across the country.