The Bar Owners Association of Kenya has warned that the proposed plan to increase taxes on alcoholic drinks will encourage the consumption of counterfeit alcohol and illicit brews.
Speaking in Nakuru on Wednesday, the Association Secretary-General Boniface Gachoka, said that the Finance Bill will further hurt the sector which is struggling to recover from the effects of covid-19.
The association estimates that sector has lost some Sh150 billion and 250,000 employees since the start of the pandemic.
A proposal in the Finance Bill, 2022 seeks to increase taxes for beer, spirits, locally manufactured glass, and alcohol advertisements
Among the proposals is to increase Excise Duty on beer by 10 per cent and by 20 per cent on spirits.
Advertisements for alcoholic products will attract a 15 per cent excise duty
The association is scheduled to meet with the Finance Committee of the National Assembly on Friday to register their opposition for the proposal.
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