The end of alcohol in Egypt
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:11 pm
The Egyptian government has banned all new alcohol licenses in new cities in a move that has many in the country fearful that the Islamist push in the North African country is reaching new levels.
Senior Vice President of the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA), Nabil Abbas, issued on Sunday a decision to ban new licenses and renewal for stores that sell alcoholic beverages in new cities.
Abbas said that the NUCA has the right to terminate any activity that disturbs society in new cities.
He compared liquor stores to mechanic and plumbing workshops saying they both represent an annoyance to the public.
Abbas had sent a letter to the new cities heads stating that once the operating licenses of the already existing liquor stores end, they are expected to change their trade in accordance with the requirements for developing the city.
He stressed that this decision was immediately supported by city councils.
It was not immediately clear which areas exactly would be affected, but comes after numerous reports last year saw marked rise in alcohol consumption in Egypt and across the Middle East, despite the rise in ultra-conservative Islamist movements. It also comes after repeated promises by President Mohamed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood said they would not ban alcohol in the country, at least not in tourist areas.
For Cairo shop owner Nabil, who sells alcohol and wine to customers, he feels that this could threaten business and said that now is not the time to be limiting owners’ ability to earn a living.
“We should not be doing this right now. The economy is bad and people still buy beer and wine so if this is part of something that will be bigger, it is really dangerous for the country,” he told Bikyanews.com.
For him and others, alcohol purchases have remained a steady part of their business and he believes that any push based on religious feelings should be put to a nationwide vote before any actions are taken.
“We should have Egyptians decide and not just government officials, especially at this time,” he added.
Across the Islamic world, The Economist magazine said, consumption is on the rise, with an increase of some 72 percent between 2001 and 2011.
Surprisingly, the Islamic world’s increase in boozing has been as the rest of the world has only grown in its alcohol consumption by some 30 percent.
The magazine, in its report on the new figures, said that the “rise [in alcohol-sales in the Middle East] is unlikely to be accounted for by non-Muslims and foreigners alone.”
Muslims are just as likely to partake in drinking as their non-Muslim counterparts. Granted, there are some Muslims who maintain abstinence to drinking, but the magazine and others believe Muslims have had a direct role in the rise of alcohol.
Although a taboo in many Muslim countries, more so in places like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Pakistan where it is legally banned, drinking is still commonplace.
Last year, Egyptian Tourism Minister Mounir Fakhry Abdel-Nour has decided that prohibitions on the serving of alcoholic beverages to Egyptian citizens would be applied on all major Islamic holidays and not just during the fasting month of Ramadan, has sparked a new sense of fear that the conservative Muslim Brotherhood and President Mohamed Morsi would attempt to curtail personal freedoms during holidays.
The ban will now be applied to four other days of the year; the Islamic New Year, the holiday commemorating the Israa and Me’rag, Prophet Mohamed’s birthday and the day of Arafa.
Holidays aside, it could be becoming more difficult to drink in what is becoming an ever conservative country.
Source: http://bikyanews.com/85266/the-end-of-alcohol-in-egypt/
Senior Vice President of the New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA), Nabil Abbas, issued on Sunday a decision to ban new licenses and renewal for stores that sell alcoholic beverages in new cities.
Abbas said that the NUCA has the right to terminate any activity that disturbs society in new cities.
He compared liquor stores to mechanic and plumbing workshops saying they both represent an annoyance to the public.
Abbas had sent a letter to the new cities heads stating that once the operating licenses of the already existing liquor stores end, they are expected to change their trade in accordance with the requirements for developing the city.
He stressed that this decision was immediately supported by city councils.
It was not immediately clear which areas exactly would be affected, but comes after numerous reports last year saw marked rise in alcohol consumption in Egypt and across the Middle East, despite the rise in ultra-conservative Islamist movements. It also comes after repeated promises by President Mohamed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood said they would not ban alcohol in the country, at least not in tourist areas.
For Cairo shop owner Nabil, who sells alcohol and wine to customers, he feels that this could threaten business and said that now is not the time to be limiting owners’ ability to earn a living.
“We should not be doing this right now. The economy is bad and people still buy beer and wine so if this is part of something that will be bigger, it is really dangerous for the country,” he told Bikyanews.com.
For him and others, alcohol purchases have remained a steady part of their business and he believes that any push based on religious feelings should be put to a nationwide vote before any actions are taken.
“We should have Egyptians decide and not just government officials, especially at this time,” he added.
Across the Islamic world, The Economist magazine said, consumption is on the rise, with an increase of some 72 percent between 2001 and 2011.
Surprisingly, the Islamic world’s increase in boozing has been as the rest of the world has only grown in its alcohol consumption by some 30 percent.
The magazine, in its report on the new figures, said that the “rise [in alcohol-sales in the Middle East] is unlikely to be accounted for by non-Muslims and foreigners alone.”
Muslims are just as likely to partake in drinking as their non-Muslim counterparts. Granted, there are some Muslims who maintain abstinence to drinking, but the magazine and others believe Muslims have had a direct role in the rise of alcohol.
Although a taboo in many Muslim countries, more so in places like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Libya and Pakistan where it is legally banned, drinking is still commonplace.
Last year, Egyptian Tourism Minister Mounir Fakhry Abdel-Nour has decided that prohibitions on the serving of alcoholic beverages to Egyptian citizens would be applied on all major Islamic holidays and not just during the fasting month of Ramadan, has sparked a new sense of fear that the conservative Muslim Brotherhood and President Mohamed Morsi would attempt to curtail personal freedoms during holidays.
The ban will now be applied to four other days of the year; the Islamic New Year, the holiday commemorating the Israa and Me’rag, Prophet Mohamed’s birthday and the day of Arafa.
Holidays aside, it could be becoming more difficult to drink in what is becoming an ever conservative country.
Source: http://bikyanews.com/85266/the-end-of-alcohol-in-egypt/
Just had a thought ST may not be interested in coming here then if this where to happen. 
just prey its enough 
(saying that I think I will add another to my case) 
Just to be sure.
Hey ho never been stopped but as this site is read 
I will comply 