“In some villages, alcoholic beverages are already completely banned”
Some villages in Kyrgyzstan have already made the decision to completely ban the sale and consumption of alcohol. Economist Arslan Omurzakov expressed his opinion on the proposal by Minister of Health Erkin Checheybaev to limit the sale of tobacco and alcoholic products in the country in an interview with Vesti.kg.
According to Omurzakov, there is a grain of reason in the minister's proposals. “Such measures are actively applied in developed countries. I remember that in France, the sale of alcohol was prohibited after eight in the evening. Alcoholic beverages and cigarettes could only be purchased in specialized stores, and at higher prices. A significant portion of the increased taxes goes to the budget,” he noted.
The economist believes that the minister is drawing on the experience of other countries; however, it raises the question of how society will react to such initiatives.
“These measures can strengthen medical insurance funds. In developed countries, this is common practice. Most citizens have expensive health insurance, and medical services cost a lot of money. Perhaps such restrictions could be beneficial for our healthcare system. However, it is worth considering how feasible this will be in our conditions, where people are accustomed to free access to alcohol and tobacco, despite their annual price increases,” added Omurzakov.
He also emphasized that the discussion of restrictions on the sale of such goods is not a new topic for the republic.
“In some villages of Kyrgyzstan, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is already prohibited. I have personally been to places where such a ban is indeed in effect. This approach can yield positive results, such as reducing crime rates, as many offenses occur under the influence of alcohol. Limiting the sale of cigarettes could improve the health of the population. Perhaps it is indeed worth making alcohol and tobacco less accessible to young people to protect them from these products. Specialized stores, in turn, will be able to pay increased taxes,” he believes.
Arslan Omurzakov also noted that the restrictions proposed by the Ministry of Health could contribute to replenishing the state budget through high excise taxes on these goods.
“Additional funds in the budget from taxes on these types of products could allow for increased funding for the healthcare system. However, it is important to remember that this is a sensitive topic for society, and it is necessary to think through how to implement such measures. Overall, alcohol consumption in Kyrgyzstan has been decreasing in recent years due to the rise in religiosity and the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, the population may get used to the temporary restrictions proposed by the Ministry of Health. This is not the introduction of prohibition, and it will have positive consequences for people's health,” he concluded.
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