More than 400 teenagers from Minsk since the beginning of the year came to the attention of law enforcement officers because of alcohol

Since the beginning of 2026, more than 400 minors who violated anti-alcohol legislation have been identified in Minsk. The problem of adolescents’ use of alcohol, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as ways to solve it, was discussed by the deputies of the Minsk City Council, BelTA reports.

This issue became the topic of the extended visiting session of the Permanent Commission on Health and Social Protection of the Minsk City Council of Deputies. Chairman of the Minsk City Council of Deputies Artem Tsuran noted that the meeting participants – representatives of the internal affairs, education, public administration, scientists and doctors, including children’s – gathered to consider the problem in a comprehensive manner.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Minsk City Executive Committee, 69 trade workers who sold alcohol to teenagers were identified. In addition, the police identified 36 so-called flats - meetings of teenagers in apartments without parents or in rented housing. It involved 96 teenagers and 58 adults.

Artem Tsuran stressed that the interdepartmental discussion helps to identify complex issues for which deputies can prepare proposals.

“There is no big problem in the city. Moreover, we see that we have a healthy society: many young people play sports, their number is growing from year to year. Sports infrastructure is developing, not only in schools, but also in yards. Young people have the opportunity to lead a healthy lifestyle, feel good and create families in the future. But, unfortunately, there are negative facts that require joint decisions and a common approach, he added.

Head of the Department of Law Enforcement and Prevention of Public Security Police of the Mingory Executive Committee, deputy of the Minsk City Council Sergey Gorokhov said that this topic is not being discussed for the first time. Despite this, there remain a number of legal nuances that need to be discussed in order to develop an agreed position and identify steps to prevent alcohol use among adolescents. “We do not claim that in the capital or the republic as a whole this problem is acute and requires urgent solution. However, it is necessary to come to a decision in any case, he said.

The Code of Administrative Offences provides for liability for drinking low-alcoholic beverages and beer in prohibited places, as well as for appearing in a public place in a state of alcoholic intoxication, insulting human dignity and public morality. “At the same time, we are well aware that the adult population with which we end up working is quite large. These are people who are on various types of accounting, including the doctor-narcologist, as well as sent to medical and labor dispensaries. We cannot ignore them and understand that alcohol abuse does not begin at the age of 30-40 years.

The deputies discussed how to proceed further, as well as various options for legal regulation. Among the proposals is to ban minors from drinking alcoholic and low-alcoholic beverages, beer, narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, regardless of place.

Sergey Gorokhov noted that extensive preventive work is underway in the capital. “But we understand that in addition to persuasion methods, there must be certain boundaries that a teenager should not cross.” He should understand this perfectly, the deputy concluded.

The agreed proposals of the commission will be subsequently sent to the interested state bodies.

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