Alcohol adverts banned near schools in Meru, board defends move
Meru County Alcoholic Drinks Control Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mbaabu Muguna. Photo/Gerald Kibaki
The Meru County Alcoholic Drinks Control Board has banned advertisement of any alcoholic drinks near learning institutions.
Meru County Alcoholic Drinks Control Board Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mbaabu Muguna said nobody will ever be allowed to erect any alcoholic drinks-related sign posts or bill boards near any learning institution in the county as per the law.
Dr Muguna declared that enticement to children through adverts raised near institutions of learning will no longer be accepted in Meru.
Speaking during an inspection tour in Meru town, Dr Muguna said they have intensified patrols and thorough crackdown as well as manning of all entry roadblocks throughout the county to ensure paramount safety of consumers.
“From today, there will be no advertising of any business related to alcoholic drinks near any learning institutions. Not even sign posts or bill boards will be allowed. We will destroy them without mercy. They may move to court, but we must stand firm,” Dr Muguna said.
He added: “Our children should grow without knowledge of alcohol. We've even used tape measures to know the exact distance between a school and bars and then closed any bar selling near schools.”
He urged Meru residents to report to his office any such adverts as he appealed to school alumni to give back to the community by sensitising and fighting to ensure learners don't start consuming alcohol.
He noted that they work very closely with the national government.
"We plead to unite the Welfare or Alumni associations to champion for a healthy and empowered community through education not alcoholism. We also collaborate with NACADA national government security agencies to nab all law breakers," Dr Muguna said.
He said his office will liaise with the County government finance office to set a budget for them to start raising sign boards with indications there is no sale of alcoholic drinks near schools.
Dr Muguna said they have already arrested many people who were selling alcoholic drinks in plastic papers and plastic bottles which is against the law.
He scoffed at leaders and bloggers allegedly spreading rumours that the office is inconsequential.
"Since the initial start of the Board, it has countered several influx of illicit brews that penetrated through the backdoor killing our innocent people. This is the most effective office. My officers are never idle or settled in the office, but traverse the county and apprehend anyone selling illicit alcohol," he said.
