News · Nov 6, 2026
Alcohol Ban Within 500 m of Events: Uzbekistan's MIA Draft and What Cafés Should Do Before November 20
Uzbekistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs has published a draft rule that would ban alcohol sales within 500 m of a mass event, starting 2 hours before it begins and lasting until it ends. We explain what already applies and what is new, which questions the draft leaves open, and what cafés near stadiums and event venues should do before November 20.
Uzbekistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has proposed a ban on alcohol sales at mass events and within 500 m of the venue. The ban would start at least 2 hours before the event begins and last for its entire duration. The draft resolution was reported in early November 2026 by anhor.uz and repost.uz. Public consultation runs until November 20. For now, this is a draft, not a rule in force. Even so, bars, restaurants and terraces near stadiums, arenas and parks should assess the risk now and submit their comments.
What the MIA is proposing: 4 key points
- Alcohol. No sales at the event venue or within 500 m of it. The ban starts at least 2 hours before the event and applies for its entire duration. Events planned in advance are exempt.
- Giveaways as a draw. Organizers may not attract people to events with free food or goods, or with sales at artificially low prices.
- Capacity. Open-air venues without fixed seating may hold no more than 1 person per 1 sq m of usable area. The limit may be lowered where additional risks exist.
- Offender register. The police will keep an electronic record of people temporarily banned from mass events for violations.
The reports do not include the draft's number or a direct link to it. Before making any decisions, find the full text on regulation.gov.uz: the wording and figures may still change.
What already applies and what is new
Some of these restrictions are not new. To avoid confusing the draft with existing rules, here they are side by side.
| Rule | Status | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Ban on drinking alcohol at stadiums, in parks, squares and other public places | In force since 26.08.2023 | Law ZRU-844 of 24.05.2023 |
| Retail alcohol sales no closer than 100 m in a straight line from sports, educational and religious organizations | In force | ZRU-844 |
| Ban on attracting people to events with free giveaways or below-cost sales | In force since 29.06.2024 | Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 360 of 28.06.2024 |
| Ban on alcohol sales within 500 m, from 2 hours before an event until it ends | Draft, consultation until November 20 | MIA draft resolution |
| No more than 1 person per 1 sq m at open-air venues without seating | Draft | MIA draft resolution |
The main change is the 500 m radius. The permanent 100 m restriction around sports organizations stays in place. The proposed 500 m zone is wider but temporary: it applies only on event days. The giveaway clause largely repeats Resolution No. 360, which targets event organizers and venue management, not promotions run by any café in the city.
What this means for your venue
Bars, restaurants and terraces near stadiums and concert venues
If the draft is adopted as it stands, venues could lose their evening alcohol revenue on match days, concert nights and public holidays. Bars and summer terraces would feel this most.
Food courts, festivals and food trucks
Familiar promotions at the entrance and inside the event zone could come into question: free tastings or "buy one, get one for next to nothing" deals. If you trade at festivals, factor in the capacity limit as well. Organizers may have to count people around stalls more strictly, and queues at a food truck take up space too.
Banquets and weddings
According to the reports, events planned in advance remain exempt. However, the reports give no definition. It is unclear whether a wedding at a restaurant near a stadium counts as "planned in advance" if there is a match at the arena that same evening. Check this against the final text.
What the reports on the draft don't cover yet
- They don't say whether the ban applies to licensed bars and restaurants with indoor seating, or only to shops and kiosks.
- They don't define an event "planned in advance" or who confirms it: a public listing, a permit or an application deadline.
- They don't explain who notifies venues about a restricted zone, or how many days in advance. For comparison, one region in Russia is currently discussing notifying sellers at least 3 days ahead.
These gaps are exactly what you should raise in your comments.
The numbers: how much revenue is at risk
Here is a hypothetical bar 400 m from a stadium in Tashkent. Replace the figures with your own POS data.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Revenue on a match night | 12,000,000 UZS |
| Alcohol share on such a night | 35% |
| Alcohol revenue at risk per night | 4,200,000 UZS |
| Nearby events per month | 4 |
| At risk per month | 16,800,000 UZS |
Compare this figure with how much you could recover through a non-alcoholic menu and combo deals. That will show whether you need a separate plan for event days.
What to do now: 5 steps
- Map the venues around you. Identify mass-event venues within 500 m: stadiums, arenas, concert halls, parks and fairs.
- Work out your alcohol share on event days. Take sales for the last 2–3 months and compare match and concert nights with regular days. AliPos Web includes sales reports. Prepare an event-day menu: craft lemonades, coffee, match-day combos.
- Review your promotions. Replace free giveaways at venue entrances with a loyalty program, pre-orders or coupons at real prices. If you trade at festivals, see our section for food courts.
- Submit comments before November 20. Ask for a definition of an event "planned in advance", a transition period, and clarity on whether the ban covers licensed indoor venues. Also propose a mechanism for advance notice.
- Train your staff. Cashiers and servers should be able to calmly explain to guests why alcohol isn't available on such a day. We covered the rules on paying for alcohol in our article on alcohol payments in cafés. If the rule is adopted, check in advance which events are taking place nearby and whether a restricted zone applies.
What not to do
- Don't take alcohol off the menu now: the draft is not in force.
- Don't cancel banquets or weddings until the final text on exemptions is published.
- Don't scrap your loyalty program or discounts for regulars. The draft addresses using giveaways to draw people to events, not a venue's everyday promotions.
- Don't plan based on news reports. Check limits, radius, timing and the act number against the primary source.
FAQ
Is this already law?
No. It is a draft resolution, and consultation runs until November 20. The figures and wording may change.
Does the ban apply to a restaurant with an indoor dining room 500 m from a stadium?
The reports on the draft don't say. Check the final text and raise this question in your comments.
How long does the ban last on an event day?
Under the draft, from at least 2 hours before the start until the event ends. The reports don't mention any period after the event.
Are tastings and "buy one, get one" deals banned in cafés?
The ban on attracting people to events with free giveaways has been in force since 2024 (Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 360). It targets event organizers and venue management. Still, it's best to replace promotions at the entrance and in the event zone with coupons at real prices.
Can I host a wedding at a restaurant near an arena?
According to the reports, events planned in advance remain exempt. How they will be defined is not yet known.
If you run a bar or restaurant near an event venue, real-time visibility of revenue and sales helps you adapt your menu quickly to new rules. To see how this works in AliPos or choose a plan, submit a connection request.
