Government of Iran toughens punishments for alcohol crimes

Reuters:

Iran's hardline-dominated parliament on Tuesday passed the outlines of a bill that imposes tougher punishments on those caught buying, selling or making alcohol, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Under the country's strict Islamic law, only members of non-Muslim religious minorities are allowed to make and drink alcohol. Trade in liquor is forbidden. READ MORE

The bill's outlines almost doubles the punishment for distribution and production of alcohol, banned since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.

"The offenders can be jailed from three months to one year or receive 74 lashes and be fined," IRNA reported. State employees involved in producing or selling alcohol, will be banned from working in governmental positions.

Parliament has yet to debate the bill's full details. To become law, the bill will then need the approval of the hardline Guardian Council, a constitutional watchdog body.

Although illegal, alcohol is readily available on Iran's black market. Iran's clerical leaders blame the West for the problem of smuggled and home-made alcohol, saying it wants to lure Iranians away from pious religious observance.

Police stepped up raids in the last month on illegal distribution of alcohol, IRNA reported.

"Some 100,000 bottles of alcohol have been seized and 4,000 distributors have been arrested," said Reza Zarei, the police chief of Tehran province.