The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has presented a draft law that will be discussed with the public and aims to amend a number of legal acts related to the regulation of hookah establishments.
According to the department, the goal of the document is to improve the legal regulation of this sector, legalize the operation of hookah bars, reduce corruption risks, and increase budget revenues while simultaneously caring for the health of citizens. This project is the result of an instruction received from the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers on November 12, 2025.
As part of this project, it is planned to:
- create legal conditions for the legalization of hookah bars;
- introduce a licensing procedure for their operation;
- ensure compliance with sanitary, fire safety, and other standards;
- reduce the scale of illegal activities.
According to current regulations, smoking tobacco products, including hookahs, in public places is prohibited; however, in practice, many hookah bars operate illegally.
In Bishkek, for example, according to open sources, there are at least 33 specialized hookah bars functioning, in addition to bars and clubs.
In the first nine months of 2024, the total amount of fines for violations in this area was about 5.8 million soms.
From November 2024 to November 2025, 55 protocols were drawn up under Article 84 of the Code of Offenses:
- 48 of them were against legal entities for a total of 2.4 million soms;
- 7 were against individuals for a total of 35 thousand soms.
The ministry emphasizes that a stable shadow sector of hookah services has formed in the market, operating under stable demand but outside the legal framework and taxation.
Experience of Other Countries
The explanatory note provides examples of hookah regulation in other countries.
For instance, in Germany, hookahs are allowed only in specialized establishments, with strict sanitary and fire safety standards in place.
In the UAE, a licensing model is applied with designated smoking areas and regular inspections.
In Kazakhstan, as experts indicate, a strict ban has led to part of the market moving into the shadows.
According to the Ministry of Economy, international experience confirms that a model with licensing and clear requirements for premises and control proves to be more effective than a complete ban.
Proposals of the Draft Law
The document proposes the following measures:
- to allow smoking hookahs only in licensed specialized establishments;
- to include hookah services in the list of licensed activities;
- to establish requirements for premises, including separate rooms and ventilation systems;
- to create a mandatory registry of hookah establishments.
