Kazakhstan is considering revising its regulations on hookahs, shifting from restrictions toward full legalization and formal oversight of the industry. An early draft of amendments obtained by Kursiv.media outlines plans to bring the business out of the shadows rather than impose additional bans.
Long-standing ban widely ignored
Hookahs have been effectively banned in Kazakhstan for more than a decade. Smoking in public places was prohibited in 2013, with further restrictions later incorporated into the country’s Public Health Code.
Read also: Vapes out, hookahs in? Kazakh police draw the line on smoking.
In practice, however, hookahs remain widely available in cafes and restaurants.
Authorities acknowledge enforcement gap
The ban has largely become symbolic due to relatively low fines and a moratorium on business inspections. The authors of the draft legislation explicitly acknowledge this in an explanatory note.
«The ban on the use of hookah tobacco in catering establishments has proven ineffective,» the document states. «There are approximately 22,000 hookah establishments in the country — four times more than before the ban.»
What the proposed changes would do
The new code, approved by the government, would introduce a formal legal category for «hookah establishments.» Businesses would be required to obtain a license to operate, with a fee set at about $1,700.
Read also: Maldives makes history with ‘lifetime’ smoking ban for new generation.
Legalization would not mean unrestricted use. Hookahs would remain banned in shopping malls, theaters, cinemas and sports facilities.
Restaurants offering hookahs would be required to comply with strict ventilation standards and designate separate smoking areas.
