Article 171³ and its purpose
Article 171³ of the Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia establishes administrative liability for involving a person under 18 in an industry that involves the production, warehousing, transportation or sale of alcoholic beverages, narcotic and psychotropic medicinal substances, or tobacco products. The purpose of the norm is clear — the protection of minors: the state seeks to ensure that a working environment connected with alcohol, tobacco and narcotic or psychotropic substances does not touch persons under 18. Involvement in such an industry carries a double risk for a minor — both for health and for socialisation — and it is precisely for this reason that the legislator treats it as a separate administrative offence.
What counts as a violation
Under the first part of the article, the offence is the involvement of a person under 18 in an industry involving the production, warehousing, transportation or sale of alcoholic beverages, narcotic and psychotropic medicinal substances, or tobacco products. The entire chain is thus protected — from production to sale: it is unacceptable for a minor to be engaged in the manufacture of these products, in their warehousing, in their transportation or in their sale.
The retail stage deserves particular mention: sale is the point where a minor enters into direct contact with alcohol or tobacco products, so involvement at this stage is punished just the same. Activity connected with narcotic and psychotropic medicinal substances is likewise a strictly controlled field where the price of error is high — the involvement of a minor in that chain is the object of a law-enforcement reaction regardless of the stage at which it occurs.
The fine for a first violation: GEL 5,000
The first part of the article provides that the involvement of a person under 18 in the said industry entails a fine of GEL 5,000. This is the base tier of the penalty, applied when a first violation is established. The amount of the fine applies equally to every stage of the industry — production, warehousing, transportation and sale — because the article covers these acts with a single composition.
A repeat violation: GEL 10,000
The second part of the article establishes a separate, doubled penalty: the act provided for by the first part of this article, committed repeatedly, entails a fine of GEL 10,000. The tiers must be kept clearly distinct: a first violation — GEL 5,000, a repeated one — GEL 10,000; writing them into a single range changes the meaning of the norm. The method of assessing a repeated act is determined by the general provisions of the Code.
Who is liable
The article does not directly define the circle of liable persons — it describes the act and the penalty. In practice the question of liability is connected with the person who involves the minor in this activity or allows the involvement; the precise assessment always depends on the facts established. The existence of guilt is assessed under the general rules of the Code.
Procedural questions
The drawing up of the protocol, the time limits for examining the case, the procedure for adopting the decision and the appeal procedure are not regulated directly by this article — these matters are determined by other provisions of the Code of Administrative Offences. Where a case exists, what matters is the clarification of the employment documents, the documents confirming age, and the factual circumstances of the labour relationship.
Practical recommendations
For employers operating in the sector connected with alcohol, tobacco products or narcotic and psychotropic medicinal substances, it is advisable to verify the age of a candidate before concluding an employment contract and to document that verification. The form of the labour relationship — a formal contract or de facto employment — does not change the essence of the offence, so age control is necessary in every format.
To summarise: Article 171³ punishes the involvement of a person under 18 in an industry involving the production, warehousing, transportation or sale of alcoholic beverages, narcotic and psychotropic medicinal substances, or tobacco products: a first violation — a fine of GEL 5,000, a repeated violation — a fine of GEL 10,000. The procedural order is determined by other provisions of the Code.
The culture of the employer's responsibility is a central theme in the application of this norm: the law counts not only who signs the contract but also who actually manages the work process and may be regarded as the perpetrator or enabler of the minor's involvement. Therefore knowledge of the age restrictions is necessary at every level of the organisation — from the management to the immediate supervisor.
The practical advice is simple: the document verifying age should be kept together with the employment file, and the responsible person should be known to all interested parties. Such a simple record will prove decisive when the case is examined, both for defending the employer's position and for confirming compliance with the law.