A section of bar operators in Embu have declared their support for the government-led crackdown on sale of poison alcohol saying the government should exercise greater control over the production and use of industrial ethanol.
Led by a retired Senior District Commissioner, John Ireri, the bar owners who operate mainly in Mbeere South said they were happy that the government had finally taken action on the dangerous alcohol that had left a trail of death and wasted youths’ lives such that they could not carry out their family obligations nor economic activities.
The bar owners, who issued a statement to the media, said the national government especially needed to monitor every drop of the ethanol produced from the factories and also ensure only responsible manufacturers get it for use in producing other goods.
Mr Antony Njue and Mrs Esther Ireri urged members of the public to cooperate with the government in the fight against the illicit brews, saying they needed to inform security organs about where some people had hidden stocks of the forbidden brands in their homes and were secretly selling them to their customers.
They also urged alcohol consumers to use the beverages responsibly and retain energy to participate in national development.
They also asked their members to be responsible in their business by restricting alcohol sales to the hours stipulated in their licenses which will leave their customers with time to rest and participate in economic activities.
Mrs Ireri decried the effect some of the alcoholic beverages had had on men saying they had incapacitated most men, making them leave the responsibility of fending for families to their wives.
By Steve Gatheru
