Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 10 / Trend , G.Dadashova /
The Kyrgyz government has suspended the issuance of permissions to import low-alcohol content drinks, 24.kg news agency reported.
Officials of the Prime Minister Apparatus say that this decision was taken 'given numerous complaints from citizens, including parents of school-age children about the uncontrolled sale of alcoholic drinks to minors, and significant harm of these drinks.'
The Health Ministry was tasked to submit a relevant opinion letter about the harms of soft drinks, the Economic Regulation Ministry was tasked to conducts a relevant expertise in terms of limiting the consumption and sale of alcoholic beverages and provide information to the government.
The State Agency for Control over Production and Turnover of Ethyl Alcohol and Alcoholic Products was instructed to suspend the issuance of permissions to import low-alcohol content drinks until obtaining clarifications from the Health Ministry.
Based on the monitoring carried out by civic activists, the average age of consumers of such drinks is 12-16 years. Such drinks regularly contribute to early alcohol consumption, which leads to the development of alcoholism among children and youth.
Earlier, some Kyrgyz MPs offered to tighten the legislation for the consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors.