Will Kazakhstan tighten alcohol regulation in response to rising social and security concerns?

Kazakhstan consumes 5.4 liters of pure alcohol per capita per year, according to data cited from World Population Review — well below Russia (10.5) and Belarus (11.4), but high enough to keep alcohol at the center of domestic policy debates. Lawmakers and the Interior Ministry argue that alcohol remains a key driver of crime and social degradation, costing the country “human capital” every year. Against this backdrop, proposals to tighten alcohol sales, licensing, and enforcement are gaining traction in Parliament. The question is whether Kazakhstan will move from rhetoric to concrete restrictions — or maintain its current regulatory balance, given relatively moderate consumption by regional standards.