Proposed Alcohol Sales Ban After 8:00 PM in Kazakhstan

In Kazakhstan, new restrictions on the sale of alcohol are currently under discussion following an initiative by Mazhilis deputy Magerram Magerramov. He has proposed banning the retail sale of alcoholic beverages in shops after 8:00 PM, and in cafes and restaurants after 10:00 PM.

The deputy justified these measures by highlighting that a significant portion of serious crimes and administrative offenses are committed under the influence of alcohol. According to his data, every second murder and every third case of rape or hooliganism are alcohol-related. Furthermore, one in four robberies and traffic accidents, as well as more than half of all domestic violence incidents, involve intoxication. He also pointed to the growing issue of intoxicated minors disturbing public order.

Magerramov emphasized that the high density of retail outlets makes it nearly impossible to fully monitor whether the ban on sales to minors is being respected. Consequently, the People's Party of Kazakhstan (NPK) faction is proposing a comprehensive set of measures, including mandatory digital labeling of alcohol, limiting the number of locations allowed to sell it, a total ban on online sales, and the introduction of stricter time limits. Additionally, they suggest developing a unified state program for the prevention of alcoholism among youth through digital and media platforms. At present, these initiatives are in the discussion phase, and no final legislative decisions have been reached.