Currently, legislation prohibits hookah smoking in public places.
Prohibited places for smoking
a) in entrances, elevators, stairwells and landings, in restrooms, regardless of departmental affiliation and ownership, including common areas of apartment buildings and utility rooms of communal apartments;
b) in buildings and premises of institutions engaged in youth policy, culture, and sports, as well as social services, in stadiums;
c) in the premises and buildings of railway and bus stations, regardless of departmental affiliation;
d) in buildings and premises providing services to the public, including hotels, household services, temporary accommodation, and public catering, as well as in non-stationary trading points;
e) in premises occupied by government bodies and local self-government;
f) in public places, except for specially designated smoking areas;
2) in workplaces and work zones;
3) in fire hazard zones, including gas stations;
4) in public catering premises;
5) in public transport, including taxis, ships, and trains;
6) in educational institutions of all levels, children's summer camps, and playgrounds;
7) in medical institutions;
8) in premises intended for rehabilitation and sanatorium-resort treatment;
9) in retail spaces and on the territories of covered markets;
10) at public transport stops;
11) in open areas during cultural and sporting events, meetings, and rallies, within beach areas, except for places specifically designated for smoking.
The department notes that despite the existing ban, hookah bars continue to operate illegally: at least 33 such establishments have been registered in Bishkek, and the demand for hookah services remains high.
“<...> a shadow market for hookah services has effectively emerged, which continues to function with stable demand, but without legal regulation, taxation, and sanitary control,” the Ministry of Economy added.
In light of the above, the Ministry proposes the following measures:
• to allow hookah smoking in licensed specialized establishments;
• to include hookah services in the list of licensed activities;
• to establish requirements for premises (separate halls, ventilation systems, sanitary standards);
• to create a mandatory register of hookah establishments.
The ban on hookah smoking in public places was introduced by the law of the Kyrgyz Republic dated September 15, 2021, No. 121 “On the Protection of the Health of Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic from the Consequences of Tobacco, Nicotine Consumption, and Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Aerosol.”
