Celebrity comedian and media tycoon Eddie Butita has criiticized NACADA’s decision on banning influencers and celebrities from marketing liquor products online. The celebrity claimed that it is a “misguided and uninformed decision that shut out important stakeholders from the debate.” This is according to an official release by Butita dated July 30th 2025.
While acknowledging NACADA’s desire to tackle alcohol abuse, Butita insisted that blocking trained influencers is not the solution. “The real issue isn’t influencer marketing,” he asserted, “it’s the lack of regulation on the thousands of untracked online promotions of alcohol.” In his view, content creators who adhere to rigorous industry guidelines—e.g., the EABL Diageo Marketing Code—have been in the forefront of pushing responsible drinking via well-crafted campaigns.
Butita, who has been involved in such responsible campaigns previously, argues the action dilutes decades of content regulation and sensitization. “These campaigns are backed with obligatory training and precise guidelines against the promotion of irresponsible behavior,” he noted.
What has seemingly irritated him most is that there was no consultation before the ban. “We are not pawns in regulatory battles,” Butita stated. “We are partners in shaping modern communication.” He invited NACADA to shift gear and instead collaborate with creatives to co-develop ethical standards for promoting alcohol on the internet.
The comment has since caused controversy online, with the majority of content creators rallying behind Butita.”Let’s build better, together,” he concluded. “Modern problems, modern solutions.”.