DOHA: Oman’s Advisory Council has voted to ban alcohol, an official said, adding it needed the cabinet’s approval.
“Members voted for generalising the punishment on anyone practising alcohol-related activities, including production, dealing, and trading,” Reuters quoted the official of the council at as saying. “But, this is a recommendation, not a law.”
According to London-based Arabic daily Alquds, the council also voted to approve an amendment to a law that, if implemented, would ban sheesha joints across the country.
Within Muscat municipality’s jurisdiction, sheesha outlets were banned in March this year. Kuwait News Agency (Kuna) had interviewed the municipality’s Chairman, Abdullah bin Abbas bin Ahmed, and he had said the decision to ban the outlets was taken after a majority of respondents in a survey favoured a ban on them.
Last March, a panel had proposed that sheesha should be banned completely in Oman and existing outlets be given a grace period to close down.
The council voted by a majority on two proposed amendments to the criminal penal code, one seeking a blanket ban on alcohol and the other to prevent sheesha smoking. The amendments in a draft law were referred to the council by the cabinet. The council sent it back to the cabinet after approving it as is the practice, Alquds said.
Currently, anyone found producing, consuming or trading alcohol without a permit is liable to a jail term of between six months and three years, or a minimum fine of 300 Omani rials ($779), or both, the council official said. Reuters
But Alquds said the article has been amended in the draft law and proposes to reduce the jail term to between 10 days and one year and a fine of 200 Omani riyals (about $520) or either of the two for anyone found making liquor, bringing it from overseas and marketing it directly or indirectly.
Permits to buy and drink alcohol are issued to non-Muslims, in effect restricting alcohol to visitors, Reuters said. Permits would be abolished.
The council’s action remained only a vote, The Times of Oman quoted tourism ministry official Maitha Al Mahrooqi as saying. Oman has historically welcomed people from all over the world and would continue to do so.
“We may be putting more rules and regulations in terms of services and qualities, and not to ban it. That is what I can say at this stage.”
The Peninsula
