Kyrgyzstan to Boost Fines for Illegal Alcohol Production
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan is proposing stricter penalties for the illegal production of alcohol and alcoholic beverages in an effort to combat the growing issue. A new bill has been submitted to the Parliament for consideration, which suggests increasing fines and prison terms for those involved in illicit production.
Currently, the punishment for producing 200 or more liters of alcohol and alcoholic beverages is correctional labor, imprisonment for up to two years, or a fine ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 soms. Additionally, more severe penalties are imposed if these drinks cause harm to the health of citizens.
The proposed changes by the Ministry of Economy would redefine large-scale production as 100 or more liters and especially large production as 200 or more liters. For those involved in large-scale production, the proposed punishment includes a fine of 200,000 soms or imprisonment for up to two years. For especially large production, the fine could be up to 500,000 soms or imprisonment for up to five years.
Furthermore, if the illegal production of alcohol and alcoholic beverages results in serious harm to health, the proposed fines and prison terms increase significantly. It is suggested that legal entities involved in such activities could face a fine of 1 million soms or imprisonment for up to ten years.
The Ministry of Economy justifies these proposed changes by citing the high profitability of illegal alcohol production and the relatively low consequences under the current legislation. It is hoped that by increasing the penalties, the number of illegal acts related to alcohol production and circulation will decrease.