NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Amid ongoing discussions about raising the national drinking age from 18 to 21, Kenya’s Catholic bishops have introduced a new proprietary brand of altar wine exclusively available to priests. This decision comes after the church’s communion wine began appearing in bars and liquor stores, generating concern about its misuse.

The bishops’ move aims to reclaim control over the wine served during Mass, ensuring it is not available for regular purchase. Only priests or individuals with a letter from their church can buy this wine, which is sold at specified locations such as the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi.

Historically, the altar wine was supplied by Kenya Wine Agencies, making it readily available in various retail outlets. This wine was identifiable with a “cross”-stamped label but lacked any explicit religious ownership. The bishops decided that the situation represented an “abuse” of the sacramental wine, prompting action to establish a new option.

Prior to this change, the availability of altar wine had become problematic, leading to the potential dilution of the wine’s sanctity. Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba announced the new brand at the church’s National Prayer Day on October 4, emphasizing its exclusive use in all church celebrations moving forward.

The produced wine, sourced from Lutzville Vineyards in South Africa, will carry the bishops’ conference emblem, ensuring its authenticity and religious endorsement. It aims to combat the counterfeiting problem wherein inferior products that mimic the genuine wine are sold.

Some priests had expressed concerns about possible misuse of the altar wine, indicating that it may have inadvertently been replaced with inferior substitutes. The decision by the bishops has been widely supported within the Catholic community, as the sanctity of the sacramental wine is crucial in maintaining religious traditions in Kenya, where approximately 50% of the Christian population identifies as Catholic.

This initiative is part of a broader effort to enforce alcohol regulations within the country and restore the perceived purity and sanctity of the wine used during Catholic rites.