# Alcohol in Iraq? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 5, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-in-iraq/146803 "2003-01-05T19:50:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-in-iraq/146803/1 "2003-01-05T19:50:28Z")
I saw an article in the newspaper and it mentioned a brewery in Iraq. I thought Muslim countries had strict rules/laws against such vices like liquor. Or am I mistaken? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-in-iraq/146803/2 "2003-01-05T20:00:40Z")
Iraq is a secular country. Large Muslim population yes, but secular none the less. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-in-iraq/146803/3 "2003-01-05T20:16:05Z")
As a result of Iraq having a secular government, Iraq has also long been the target of islamic fundamentalist anger, especially by such groups as Al-Quaida. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-in-iraq/146803/4 "2003-01-05T21:20:31Z")
Don’t forget that the only reason Hussein added “Allah Akbar” to the Iraqi flag was to give the impression that the Gulf War really was an attack on Islam instead of being a reaction to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-in-iraq/146803/5 "2003-01-05T21:50:22Z")
FWIW, Syria makes really good beer. Lousy wine, but great beer. And yes, I know this from first hand experience. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-in-iraq/146803/6 "2003-01-06T01:23:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tapioca Dextrin \* > \*\*FWIW, Syria makes really good beer. Lousy wine, but great beer. And yes, I know this from first hand experience. \*\* I just wanna know how you got to Syria and could drink beer and I had to suck it up in Kuwait without so for 4 months. . . 😃 Tripler Damn. I could have had some. . . ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-in-iraq/146803/7 "2003-01-06T02:34:25Z")
I always thought that strict Muslims (Wahabbis, Iranian regime) considered all alcohol sinful while more moderate Muslims (Turks, many Syrians, Iraqis and so on) considered _drunkeness_ sinful but appreciated light drinking. I do know Turkey has many beers, wines, and spirits; but they are also very secular for the most part. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-in-iraq/146803/8 "2003-01-06T03:08:20Z")
Well, I know things in Algeria were different in 1989 than they are now, but I drank some truly terrifying Algerian wine then in Russia. I think you could strip paint off a car with it. But it still didn’t hold a candle to Dagestani cognac, and Dagestanis are nearly all Muslims. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-in-iraq/146803/9 "2003-01-06T05:33:46Z")
cuate: Depends on where you are. IIRC, the UAE prohibits sale of alcoholic beverages to or consumption of same by Muslims but permits non-Muslims to both purchase & consume. Some (well, at least one) of the emirates in the UAE though do prohibit alcoholic beverages flat out. ---
**Author:** ![Hemlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Hemlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hemlock)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-in-iraq/146803/10 "2003-01-06T07:38:11Z")
I’ve had semi-decent beer in Morocco, plus disgusting wine. Indonesia and Malaysia both have breweries turning out some excellent beers, including (in Malaysia) a very strong Guinness. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alcohol-in-iraq/146803/11 "2003-01-06T08:14:14Z")
Here in Dearborn, MI, there is arabic brew in many restaurants. I go for the Lebenese beer myself. (Almaza I think?)