Russian Region Targets Youth Vaping and Night Alcohol Sales

Key Points

• Nizhny Novgorod plans to continue restricting night-time alcohol sales;
• Regional lawmakers highlight high vape use among teenagers;
• The region seeks greater authority to regulate vape sales;
• Officials warn of unknown health risks linked to vaping;
• Health promotion efforts will continue in 2026.

2Firsts, December 22, 2025 – According to NewsNN, Evgeny Lyulin, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Nizhny Novgorod Region, said at a press conference on December 22 that efforts to combat night-time alcohol sales and the spread of e-cigarettes will continue in 2026.

Lyulin noted that significant progress has been made in addressing illegal and semi-legal alcohol sales, which previously exceeded legal trade levels in the region but have now largely disappeared.

He stressed that alcohol abuse remains a major public health issue and requires ongoing measures, including shutting down illegal outlets and banning night-time alcohol sales. However, he pointed out that some businesses exploit regulatory loopholes by disguising small shops as food-service establishments.

Lyulin said the regional legislature has already appealed to the State Duma to establish clear standards for food-service venues and will continue this work in 2026 by submitting proposals to amend federal legislation.

Turning to vaping, Lyulin said the issue remains unresolved, noting that around 90% of teenagers occasionally use e-cigarettes, posing risks to their physical and psychological health. He added that the full range of negative health effects is still unknown.

He described the region as one of the most active in addressing vaping and called for radical measures, including legislation allowing regions to independently impose restrictions on vape sales.

Lyulin emphasised that bans alone are insufficient and that promoting healthy lifestyles and educating young people and parents about the risks of vaping will remain a priority in 2026.

Photo credit: NewsNN