Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Rasul Kusherbaev, an advisor to the Minister of Ecology of Uzbekistan and former member of parliament, criticized the draft law aimed at banning the circulation of electronic cigarettes and nicotine delivery devices.

In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Kusherbaev emphasized that while he is against smoking, he sees no logic in banning these devices without taking parallel steps to restrict alcohol consumption, which he believes is far more dangerous.

Kusherbaev noted that the harm caused by alcohol is much more significant than that caused by smoking. He pointed out that most crimes are committed under the influence of alcohol, raising the question of why alcohol is not subjected to the same strict control.

He cited the tragic case in Nukus, where a drunk emergency services officer injured five people and killed one. He also reminded of the frequent fatal road accidents caused by drunk driving.

In his opinion, the damage caused by alcohol is immense, yet there are no legislative initiatives to limit its consumption.

Kusherbaev emphasized the need to set priorities based on real threats and public risk. He believes that the primary focus should be on limiting alcohol consumption, not banning electronic cigarettes.

The former parliamentarian also drew attention to the advertising of wine and beer in Uzbekistan, which, according to him, seems illogical in the context of the fight against tobacco products.

“There is a need to reassess priorities and focus on the most pressing issues. If we define the priority issues, then the legislative proposals will be logical,” Kusherbaev concluded.

It is worth noting that recently, there has been active discussion in Uzbekistan about the issue of electronic cigarettes, while traditional tobacco products, which also cause significant health damage, have not received the same level of attention from authorities and lawmakers.