Unanimous sources confirmed that the concept of national alcoholic beverages stores has been finalized, the daily reported. The whole system of distribution is expected to be similar to the national tobacco stores; thus all sales of alcoholic beverages would be centrally controlled. The daily added that, according to rumors, alcoholic beverages would only be sold in special, government licensed stores.

When tobacco was controlled this way, beginning last year, the number of legal outlets for tobacco was reduced from around 40,000 to around 7,000, according to the World Health Organization. There has been a subsequent rise in illegal cigarette sales reported.