Dagestan is considering a complete ban on the retail sale of electronic cigarettes and the liquids used in them. The republic’s People’s Assembly has approved, in the first reading, a bill that would impose a five-year restriction on the sale of such products throughout the region. The initiative was put forward by the Speaker of the Parliament, Zaur Askenderov.

If enacted, the ban would take effect on March 1, 2027, and remain in place until March 1, 2032. The restriction would apply to the retail sale of electronic nicotine delivery systems and their associated liquids.

The bill also includes additional restrictions on conventional tobacco products and other nicotine-containing items. It proposes prohibiting their retail sale at children’s health and recreation facilities, social service organizations, recreational areas near bodies of water—including beaches—and at public cultural events attended by teenagers and young people. The document also introduces further limitations on smoking and the use of hookahs in certain public spaces.

Askenderov explained that the initiative is intended to protect families with children from tobacco smoke. "Tobacco should not be accessible there," the parliamentary speaker stated, referring to places frequented by children and young people.

Russian regions gained the authority to implement local bans on the sale of vapes following the adoption of Federal Law No. 186-FZ. Such restrictions are permitted for the period between March 1, 2027, and March 1, 2032. Dagestan’s proposal seeks to apply this mechanism across the entire republic.

In North Ossetia, a total ban on the retail sale of vapes and their liquids is set to take effect on September 1, 2026. The republic introduced this measure even before the new federal mechanism was established, acting on the basis of its own regional law.

Electronic cigarettes are often perceived as a harmless alternative to conventional ones, but this is a misconception. Vape aerosols contain nicotine, fine particles, toxic substances, and heavy metal compounds, which, when inhaled, can damage the respiratory tract and lungs. Nicotine is addictive, increases heart rate and blood pressure, and—in adolescents—can negatively affect brain development, including attention, memory, and learning capacity. Certain components of the aerosol are also linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. The World Health Organization emphasizes that electronic cigarettes are not safe, and the long-term consequences of their use are still being studied.

Regions in the North Caucasus consistently rank among the parts of Russia with the lowest prevalence of harmful habits. According to data from the Russian Ministry of Health for September 2026, Chechnya topped the list of regions with the smallest share of smokers aged 18 and older—just 0.28%. The figure for Ingushetia was 5.94%, for Dagestan 8.81%, and for North Ossetia 10.19%. Thus, four regions within the North Caucasian Federal District are among those with the lowest smoking prevalence in the country.

Low figures are also recorded for alcohol consumption. Statistics from the Ministry of Health for July 2026 show that Chechnya again ranks first in Russia, with a consumption rate of 0.02 liters of pure alcohol per person. In Ingushetia, the figure is 0.62 liters, and in Dagestan, it is 0.88 liters. Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, and Stavropol Krai were also among the top six regions with the lowest alcohol consumption.