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Alcohol Business Dangerous in Baghdad


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Alcohol Business Dangerous in Baghdad

By BASSEM MROUE | Associated Press Writer

7:03 AM EDT, September 15, 2007

BAGHDAD - The three men glanced left and right before cautiously entering a liquor store on Saadoun Street, one of two areas where alcohol is publicly sold in the Iraqi capital. Inside, they pointed to a bottle of champagne.

"Give me a box of those," one said.

Selling and drinking alcohol is still legal in Iraq, but since the rise of religious parties in this predominantly Muslim country, the trade has come under severe pressure. Aside from legal restrictions, many liquor shops have been bombed in the past four years.

Some who dared sell alcohol from their homes have been killed by religious militias, which use fear and intimidation to keep liquor out of areas they control.

Still, that has not deterred all traders or customers.

"We're busy these few days," said Yasser, a clerk at the Saadoun Street store, who refused to give his full name for security reasons. "People are buying big amounts of alcohol because Ramadan is coming," referring to the Muslim holy month of fasting that began this week.

All liquor stores are closed during Ramadan, a measure that has been in force since before Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled in April 2003.

"Usually the buyers take bottles, but now they buy boxes," said Naim, a clerk who refused to give his full name out of fear for his safety. "They want to make sure they have enough until the end of the month. We are selling a lot of beers and whiskey."

Full Story, Source: Newsday

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