“This is our mistake.” Alcohol products to be sold for cash again

In the coming days, catering establishments will be allowed to sell alcohol products for cash. This was announced by Chairman of the State Tax Committee Farrukh Pulatov during an open dialogue held on April 21 at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.

During the discussion, an entrepreneur noted that problems had arisen when selling alcohol products to foreign customers.

In response, Pulatov said that work was underway to address the issue and that a solution would be provided in the near future.

“This is our mistake. We are working on it and will provide a solution in the coming days. Of course, we will correct this,” the chairman of the Tax Committee said.

He added that a draft document proposing amendments and additions to the current regulations had been prepared and was currently being coordinated with relevant agencies.

It was also noted during the open dialogue that, in order to create more convenient conditions for tourists visiting the country, hotels had been allowed to accept the tourist tax in cash.

According to additional remarks, the issue had also been raised during a separate open dialogue organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry with tax consultants, auditors, and accountants.

It is worth noting that the presidential decree of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, adopted on December 10, 2025, titled “On additional measures aimed at promoting cashless payments and reducing the share of the shadow economy,” came into force on April 1 this year.

Under the decree, payments for the following must be made exclusively via bank cards or electronic payment systems:

• services provided by government agencies;
• payments for electricity, natural gas, and drinking water;
• alcohol and tobacco products;
• sales of oil and gas products to the public through fuel stations, as well as services for charging electric vehicles;
• goods and services priced above 25 million soums;
• transactions involving real estate, as well as the sale and purchase of vehicles in categories M, N, O, and G that are less than 10 years old, including specialized vehicles.

Overall, the new regulations quickly sparked widespread discussion and criticism on social media. Members of the public expressed dissatisfaction, noting that the shift away from cash had led to difficulties at fuel stations and in retail transactions.