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Kazakhstan shuts down websites for booze ads

Almost 100 foreign websites have reportedly been shut down in Kazakhstan for advertising alcohol, an illegal activity in the country.

Authorities in Kazakhstan have reportedly ordered 92 foreign websites to be shut down in the country for advertising alcohol

According to Tengrinews, the Almaty Prosecutor’s Office – the main legal agency in the country – began legal proceedings against 92 sites after spotting illegal activity during an anti-alcohol monitoring campaign.

Since the websites are hosted overseas, they cannot be completely shut down, but local internet providers are able to censor the sites in Kazakhstan.

Alcohol advertising was outlawed in Kazakhstan in January 2004.

The country’s government also ruled that advertising in general must not occupy more than 15% of the airtime on television and radio, and it must be communicated in both Kazakh and Russian languages.

The news of this recent spate of activity against alcohol advertising comes as the Turkish government implemented a policy which could result in social media users being fined for promoting alcohol brands.

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