Key points
- In Kyiv, during the first half of 2026, the Kyiv City State Administration’s administrative commission considered 75 reports concerning the sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors.
- Compared with the same period last year, the number of such reports fell by almost 16 per cent – from 89 to 75.
- Ukrainian law prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products to persons under the age of 18, and sellers are obliged to check documents confirming the buyer’s age.
- Breaches of these requirements are subject to administrative penalties, and the business may have its licence to retail alcohol and tobacco revoked.
In Kyiv, the number of cases involving the sale of alcohol and tobacco products to minors fell during the first half of 2026 – the administrative commission attached to the executive body of the Kyiv City Council considered 75 such reports, according to the Kyiv City State Administration.
During the same period last year, there were 89 such reports – a reduction of almost 16 per cent.
The sale of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 is prohibited by Ukrainian law. If a retailer has any doubts regarding a customer’s age, they are obliged to ask for proof of age – if this is not provided, the sale must be refused.
Breaches of these requirements are subject to administrative penalties. The business may also have its licence to retail alcoholic beverages and tobacco products revoked.
The reduction in the number of such offences is a positive sign. This is due, in particular, to the relevant awareness-raising efforts, as some shops display information about the legal ban on the sale of alcohol and tobacco products to minors.
– Dmytro Zagumennyi, Chief of Staff of the Kyiv City State Administration.
Throughout 2025, the administrative commission considered 181 reports drawn up in connection with the sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors.
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