Is Egyptian parliament encouraging alcohol consumption?
The Egyptian parliament's approval to lift the prohibition of the sale of alcohol in the law on shops has stirred a wide controversy in a country where Sharia is the source of legislation.
CAIRO — Egypt's State Council, the judicial body charged with examining the constitutionality of bills that are preliminarily approved by parliament, will finalize the review of a new bill on public shops by March 2 at the latest, and will send its report to parliament by the following day, according to a council source speaking to Al-Monitor. After the report is issued a final vote on the law will be held in parliament. The new bill does not prohibit alcohol supply and consumption.
The Egyptian parliament had initially approved the new bill during its plenary session Jan. 13. The majority of parliamentarians, however, voted in favor of removing Article 28, which prohibits the supply and consumption of alcohol in public shops; it also bans gambling and engaging in any acts that are immoral or violate public ethics.
