The quantity of imported hard liquor jumped to 16.3 million litres in 2020. [Courtesy] Imports of brandy, gin, whiskey and rum increased by 45 per cent at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the highest jump in seven years.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows the quantity of imported hard liquor jumped to 16.3 million litres in 2020, compared to 11.2 million litres of spirits that Kenyans brought into the country from overseas in the previous year.
This was at a period when the purchasing power of more Kenyans was eroded by the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, with millions of people losing their livelihoods.
This is also the highest jump in imports of spirits since 2013 when there was an increase of 72 per cent in hard liquor purchased from outside the country.
Increased importation of the expensive hard liquor reflects not only the changing consumer tastes and preferences among imbibers as their purchasing power has gone up but also a dramatic shift in drinking habits during a pandemic period that was characterised by economic hardships.
Renowned Psychiatrist Dr Frank Njenga noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) released a report in May 2020 that indicated that the rate of alcohol use disorders and alcoholism would go up. This was at the beginning of the pandemic.
Anytime there is a social disruption, Njenga said there is a tendency for people to abuse alcohol. Psychiatrist Dr Frank Njenga in Kisumu, October 2021. [Collins Oduor, Standard] The Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers Chief Executive Mike Macharia said while there has not been a marked shift in drinking patterns by patrons who frequent hotels and restaurants, the surge could be observed in pubs where people drink for longer hours.
“For us, our consumption patterns are still the same. That increase is probably being realised elsewhere-probably in pubs and these off-license wine shops that have popped up all over the country,” said Macharia.
Last year, the economy contracted by 0.3 per cent due to the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which crippled certain sectors such as hotel and tourism with thousands of workers being laid off.
With pubs either closed or operating fewer hours at the height of Covid-19, there was an uptick in wines and spirits shops around the country.
Consumption of spirits also seems to have benefited from the downturn in beer sales due to the closure of bars and […]