Bien Baraza Slams NACADA's Plan to Raise Legal Drinking Age to 21, Ban Alcohol Advertising

• Bien Baraza criticised NACADA's proposed alcohol consumption regulations, calling them fake morality
• Bien argued that the new policies could harm industries like advertising and the creative sectors, raising concerns
• NACADA defends its stance, citing public health, youth addiction prevention, and the growing alcohol crisis as key reasons

Celebrated musician Bien Baraza has criticised the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) over its stricter regulations on alcohol consumption.

The board has proposed tough measures aimed at addressing the alcohol consumption crisis in the country, particularly among the youth.

What are NACADA's new proposals on alcohol?

Some of the proposed rules include banning the sale of alcohol near schools and places of worship, raising the legal drinking age from 18 to 21, and prohibiting alcohol advertising.

Why did Bien Baraza disagree with NACADA's new plans?

Bien expressed his frustration in response to the proposal, describing the measures as "fake morality" and arguing that they would limit job opportunities, particularly in the creative and advertising industries.

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He questioned whether Kenya was the first country to face such challenges, highlighting that these measures could harm the livelihoods of those in the industry.

"NACADA now proposes banning alcohol advertising, online sales, and raising the legal drinking age to 21. The government recently banned betting ads, too. These bans hit the creative and advertising industries hard. What is this fake morality? Pretending to care about the very youth they're killing. Are we the first country to have these vices? Then we wonder why unemployment is so rampant," he wrote on Instagram.

In response, NACADA issued a detailed statement on X (formerly Twitter), explaining their stance.

How will NACADA's regulations help Kenyans?

The statement read:

"Thank you, @bienaimesol, for sharing your concerns. We respect your voice and influence in shaping conversations that matter to young Kenyans. Let’s be clear: this is not about fake morality or censorship. It’s about public health, data-driven prevention, and protecting the same youth we all claim to care about. Kenya is facing a real crisis:

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• Alcohol is the most abused substance, with first exposure starting as early as 13 years old... clearly not cool, is it?
• Youth are the primary targets of online, influencer-led alcohol marketing, and this is a fact, right?
• The burden of addiction is costing families, schools, and our healthcare system dearly, which is again an indisputable fact!

We’re not banning creativity. We’re regulating access and exposure, especially where it blurs the line between lifestyle and addiction...."

How did Bien Baraza honour Saba Saba victims?

In other news, Bien publicly acknowledged the problem in Kenya during his latest international appearance.

The celebrated artiste made a powerful statement while performing at Kings Cross in London.

He did not shy away from addressing the violent Saba Saba protests that resulted in several Kenyan deaths and injuries.

The former Sauti Sol member had just arrived in London after a sold-out show in Paris and attracted a diverse crowd of fans during the street performance hosted by popular UK-based content creator DJ AG.

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This online show features major African music stars performing live on the streets and recently showcased Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz.

Bien delivered a mix of hits, including "Ma Cherie," "Extra Pressure," and several other songs from his growing solo catalogue.

Source: TUKO.co.ke