Head of Bashkiria offered to make Sabantuy festivals alcohol-free

UFA, 27 May 2019. /Bashinform News Agency, Galina Bakhshieva/ translated by Tatiana Aksyutina/.

The Acting Head of Bashkortostan, Radiy Khabirov proposed to break the tradition and celebrate Sabantuy festivals without alcohol.

As reported earlier by Bashinform News Agency, on May 30, deputies of the State Assembly - Kurultay of the Republic will consider a bill aimed at restricting the sale of alcohol during the days of Sabantuy in cities and villages of Bashkiria.

Amendments to the republican law “On regulation of activities in the production and circulation of ethyl alcohol, alcoholic and alcohol-containing products and on limiting consumption (drinking) of alcoholic beverages in Bashkortostan” can increase the current ban on daily sale of alcohol by three hours, setting it from 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. (instead of the current from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.).

It is also proposed to ban the sale of alcohol on Youth Day (June 27), Knowledge Day (September 1, and if September 1 falls on Sunday, September 2), on the day of the national Sabantuy festivals, which in each district of the republic fall on their own date.

“Let's make this tradition treating guests non-alcoholic,” suggested Khabirov. “Our restrictions apply to everyone: residents, officials, and managers. Otherwise, we will compromise the very idea, which is good, aimed at healthy lifestyle and well-being”.

Recall that in the spring of this year numerous gatherings of citizens were held in the cities and districts of Bashkortostan aimed at fighting bootleggers. According to Radiy Khabirov, the fight against the illegal circulation of alcohol should be constant.