National Police and the City of Kigali have outlined measures against excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse during the four-day national holiday beginning from July 1 up to July 6 and school day.
“We are preparing for students to return for the long holiday. We have a long public holiday break next week. This is a time when alcohol abuse and drug use may increase. It is important to remind everyone of the existing prevention measures,” stated Police spokesperson ACP Boniface Rutikanga.
Crackdown on underage drinking
ACP Rutikanga said police will be deployed to crack down on bars and nightclubs allowing individuals under 18.
“It is prohibited to give alcohol to children. It is a legal requirement to ask anyone ordering alcohol to show proof that they are 18 or older. It is also necessary to display a clear notice stating that alcohol is not sold to anyone under the age of 18,” he explained. Vendors are required to verify age using ID.
Enforcement of Venue Capacity Limits
He said venue [bars and nightclubs] capacity verification will be carried out as a process of ensuring that the number of people allowed into a venue does not exceed its legally or safely defined limit. This is important for safety, comfort, and compliance with laws or event regulations.
“It is prohibited to admit more people than the building’s capacity allows,” he explained.
Ban on serving intoxicated patrons
“It is prohibited to serve alcohol to a person who is clearly already intoxicated,” Rutikanga stated.
Opening and closing hours
“It is necessary to respect the official opening and closing hours for bars.”
Regarding operating hours, the measures include that bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and liquor stores must close by 1:00 a.m. from Monday to Friday, and by 2:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Overall, opening hours begin from 5:00 a.m.
As per the regulations, hotel services can operate 24/7 for in-house guests.
RDB warned that non-compliance with the regulations attracts fines, temporary or permanent closure, licence suspension, and other relevant legal actions.
Concerning occupational capacity, RDB indicated that establishments must not exceed authorised capacity limits, while for noise pollution, sound levels must comply with national decibel guidelines.
Inspection of basic facilities for bars
According to the police spokesperson, a building used as a bar must meet specific requirements, including sufficient parking space, separate toilets for men, women, and people with disabilities, handwashing facilities, and the presence of security personnel.
Supermarkets, small shops not allowed to operate as bars
“Supermarkets, small shops and liquor stores are not allowed to operate as bars. They are also not permitted to sell alcohol to anyone under the age of 18. Anyone purchasing alcohol must show valid identification,” he explained.
Verification of operational licence
“Having a trading licence that allows one to register a bar is not enough to start operating,” Rutikanga explained. He said the business must also obtain authorisation from local authorities (such as the City of Kigali) before beginning operations, and must be located in a building that meets all the required standards.
Inspection in hotels
Hotels will continue to receive guests who are authorised to stay overnight, as usual, at any hour. However, it is not permitted for people to use this as a pretext to turn hotels into drinking spots during hours when other bars are closed, if they are not staying there as guests.
