Alcohol in Iran

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Alcohol has been legally prohibited for Muslim Iranian citizens since the establishment of Islamic Republic government in 1979.[1]

In 2017, 5.7% of the adult population were found to have consumed alcohol in the previous year.[2]

History[]

Wine has played an important role in Persian culture and history ranging from administration of the earliest empires to religion and Persian literature.[3]

Law[]

See also: Alcohol in Islam

Under Iranian law, its Muslim citizens are forbidden from consuming alcohol.

Allowances for non-Muslims[]

Officially recognized non-Muslim minorities are allowed to produce alcoholic beverages for their own consumption and for religious rites such as the Eucharist. Two of the four religious minorities guaranteed representation in the parliament (Majlis) – the Armenians and Assyrians – are Christian, the former being chiefly Armenian Apostolic.

This practice is not respected in some political cases like the one involving Afarin Neyssari and husband Karan Vafadari, both arrested, among other charges, for possessing and serving alcohol during mixed gatherings held in their home, though they are Zoroastrians, a monotheistic religion that predates Islam.[4]

Bringing alcohol into Iran is forbidden by law.[citation needed]

Drunk driving[]

See also: Car accidents in Iran and Healthcare in Iran

In 2011-2012, the Iranian Traffic Police withdrew the driving licenses of 829 drivers, including 43 women, who had failed to pass alcohol and drug tests. Alcohol tests taken from drivers in Tehran in the period of 20 April-20 May 2012 showed that 26% of them were drunk.[5] Because the country has no public bars or similar venues, consumption of alcohol takes place at home, behind closed doors.

Punishment[]

In 2020, a Muslim man was executed at Mashhad Prison after being convicted of drinking alcohol for the sixth time, driving without a license and being in possession of alcohol.[6]

Illegal sources[]

The 2010 study Substance Use Among Migrants: The Case of Iranians in Belgium notes that alcohol is acquired illegally in three different ways: it is purchased from ethnic minorities (particularly Armenians), produced in homes by adding fermenting agents to non-alcoholic beer, or smuggled into the country, largely through Iraqi Kurdistan.[7][8]

Alcohol poisoning is quite common because illegal alcohol is often substandard. There were 768 cases of hospitalization due to methanol poisoning in eight provinces in Iran over the course of 4 weeks in late 2018; 96 of the patients died.[9]

Non-alcoholic alternatives[]

Iran's prohibition of alcoholic drinks creates high demand for non-alcoholic beer. Anti-smuggling plans by the Iranian government, coupled with awareness campaigns against the consumption of cola carbonates and campaigns encouraging the consumption of non-alcoholic beer, further boosted demand in 2010. More young adults in Iran are interested in non-alcoholic beer, following widespread media coverage regarding its health benefits. These health advantages play a major part in the promotional activities of most major firms.[10]

Public health[]

The Iranian Ministry of Health developed a national programme to reduce alcohol consumption by 10% between 2015 and 2025, but the religious-driven zero-tolerance alcohol policy impedes the development of an effective harm-reduction approach.[11]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Marjolein Muys (1 April 2010). Substance Use Among Migrants: The Case of Iranians in Belgium. Asp / Vubpress / Upa. pp. 78–. ISBN 978-90-5487-564-2.
  2. ^ "A public health approach to alcohol use and its related harms in Iran". Lancet. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  3. ^ J.B. (28 September 2016). "Why wine is integral to Persian culture". The Economist. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  4. ^ "Family Breaks Silence as Iran Detains Owners of Tehran's Aun Gallery". www.artforum.com. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  5. ^ Pourparsa, Parham (2012-06-20). "BBC News - Iran's 'hidden' alcoholism problem". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  6. ^ "Iranian man executed for drinking alcohol, says rights group". 10 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Alcohol in Iran: All You Need to Know | 1stQuest Blog". 1stQuest Blog. 2018-05-30. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  8. ^ Saeed Kamali Dehghan (25 June 2012). "Iranian pair face death penalty after third alcohol offence | World news". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
  9. ^ "A public health approach to alcohol use and its related harms in Iran". Lancet. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Alcoholic Drinks in Iran". www.euromonitor.com. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  11. ^ "A public health approach to alcohol use and its related harms in Iran". Lancet. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
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