Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the law "On Restricting the Distribution and Consumption of Alcohol and Tobacco Products", which envisages a ban on the sale of alcohol and tobacco products, devices for the use of tobacco and nicotine to persons under the age of 21 (before the age of 20), and by persons, i.e. sellers, under the age of 21 (previously there was no such requirement).

A person directly involved in the sale of alcohol and tobacco products, devices for the use of tobacco and nicotine is obliged to demand from the buyer, who looks younger than twenty-one years old, to present a document proving his identity and age, and in the absence of a document - to refuse to sell alcohol and tobacco products, devices for the use of tobacco and nicotine.

A number of requirements have also been introduced for their implementation, in particular, these products cannot be sold:

- without the direct participation of the seller, including through vending machines, other electronic or mechanical devices;

- from self-service shelves;

- in the form of e-commerce, including delivery to end consumers by any means (with the exception of sparkling and natural wines);

- by exit trade (from hands, trays, from baskets, hand carts);

- outside stationary trade facilities;

- in pharmacies;

- in premises intended for the sale of children’s goods;

- on the territories of organizations of the healthcare system, educational organizations, cultural institutions, sports and recreational and sports facilities, sanatoriums and medical and social institutions;

- in premises and places that do not meet sanitary standards and rules for the storage and sale of alcoholic and tobacco products, devices for the use of tobacco and nicotine;

- in the territories and premises (with the exception of duty-free shops) of railway stations, bus stations, airports, river ports, metro stations - in relation to tobacco products and devices for using tobacco and nicotine.

Also, the companies or individuals cannot sell products that imitate children’s toys, candy or other children’s products.

Trade facilities located less than 100 meters in a straight line from educational, sports and religious organizations are prohibited from selling alcohol and tobacco products. The exception is trade facilities located on the territory of shopping malls (markets) with a total trading area of more than 1,000 sq. m. and in the fair pavilions.

In addition, the sellers cannot sell expired products without the appropriate documents confirming the quality of the products.

The restrictions also affected products that were not duly marked with excise stamps or marked with fake excise stamps, or without a clear marking that did not allow to identify its manufacturer, or not duly marked with digital identification means.

The sellers cannot sell products in the absence of a medical warning on the label of consumer packaging or pack.

Cigarettes are also subject to the following sales bans:

- if the consumer package (pack) of tobacco products contains less than 20 cigarettes;

- without consumer packaging (pack, block);

- individually or with opened (in violation of integrity) consumer packaging (pack);

- in one set with other goods that are not tobacco products and devices for the use of tobacco and nicotine.

With regard to alcoholic products, it is prohibited to sell bottles without labels, dirty (inside or outside), with obvious signs of damage (chipped throat, cracks), with damaged closures, with general turbidity, foreign inclusions, sediment (with the exception of collection wine products).

In addition, it is forbidden to sell alcohol (with the exception of beer) at prices below the minimum wholesale and retail prices.

The document also expanded the list of public places where the use of tobacco products and the use of devices for the use of tobacco and nicotine are prohibited:

- in objects of trade and provision of services, including public catering establishments;

- in cinemas, theaters, circuses, concert, viewing and exhibition halls and other indoor structures intended for public recreation;

- in clubs, discos, computer rooms, rooms equipped to provide access to the worldwide information network Internet, or in other places of entertainment;

- in museums, information and library institutions and lecture halls;

- in local and long-distance trains, on river vessels;

- in buses, subway cars, taxis, urban electric transport, aircraft, as well as other types of public transport;

- in underground passages, at metro stations, transport stops and covered places for temporary storage of vehicles;

- in open air places at a distance of less than 5 m from the entrances to railway stations, bus stations, airports, river ports, metro stations;

- in fire hazardous places, including gas stations;

- in the buildings of airports, railway and automobile stations, river ports;

- in the buildings of enterprises, institutions, organizations and government bodies, including at the workplace, in corridors, elevators, stairs, lobbies, toilets, rest rooms, adjacent premises and in other similar places used by the employee during labor activity;

- in organizations of the healthcare system, pharmacies, educational organizations, cultural institutions, sports and recreational and sports facilities, sanatorium and medical and social institutions;

- in premises intended for the provision of housing services, hotel services, services for temporary accommodation and (or) provision of temporary accommodation;

- in the entrances and elevators of apartment buildings, as well as on children’s and sports grounds, including those located in the local area;

- in squares, parks and beaches.

The law will enter into force three months after its official publication.