AZE.US
A debate has opened in Azerbaijan over whether alcohol should be restricted at wedding parties, after recent efforts to reduce excessive spending at funeral ceremonies were largely welcomed by the public.
Some in Baku and other parts of the country say similar rules should now be discussed for weddings. One of the main arguments is that alcohol consumption at wedding celebrations often leads to fights, disorder and other unpleasant incidents.
Could alcohol be removed from wedding menus altogether? Could limits be introduced instead? And would such a step actually reduce violence and conflicts at celebrations?
Azerbaijani lawmaker Jeyhun Mammadov told Globalinfo.az that the issue should be viewed first in the wider context of wasteful spending.
“Unfortunately, wastefulness is now seen in different areas, including wedding ceremonies. Excessive spending, demonstrative behavior and costs beyond real need have reached a level that causes concern in society. I believe such wastefulness should be stopped and more rational approaches should be encouraged,” Mammadov said.
On the issue of alcohol, the lawmaker said alcoholic drinks can lead to serious consequences.
“When we look at the causes of many crimes, murders and road accidents, we see that the impact of alcohol is quite significant. The fact that alcohol is so accessible and widespread creates certain social problems,” he said.
Mammadov noted that Azerbaijan is a secular and civilized state, but said society should still speak openly about the damage caused by alcohol abuse.
According to him, alcohol-related problems affect not only public health, but also family relations, public safety and the wider social environment.
“There is a serious need for society to stay away from such problems. For this, awareness-raising efforts should be strengthened, and relevant state bodies should take appropriate steps,” Mammadov said.
He added that people see the negative consequences of these problems in daily life, and that systematic work is needed to address them.
For now, however, the possible restriction of alcohol at weddings in Azerbaijan remains a public debate rather than a concrete legislative proposal.
AZE.US