Afghanistan
For our next stop in Alcohol Around the World we visit a largely arid land, the Islamic Republic: Afghanistan. We are sure you haven’t heard of many alcoholic drinks hailing from this landlocked nation, well, that’s because it’s a dry country. Alcohol is banned. Mostly because of the country’s Islamic beliefs: alcohol impairs the judgment, leaving one to fail on his obligations, negatively affecting one’s relationship with God.
The reason why Muslims abstain from liquor stems all the way back even before Islam came to fruition. Many Arabs would drink to forget about their problems, alleviate stress, much the same as today. Alcohol was even sold around the clock, 24 hours a day, (at non-stop delis with endless amounts of forties). Unfortunately, good things come to an end; the people didn’t know how to hold their liquor. Alcohol led to tribal warfare, rampant prostitution, broken homes and many absentees from the local mosque. This candy store had to close. This in turn led the Koran to forbid alcohol.
I know, I know, its very disconcerting, but don’t fret there little alcoholic traveler. There a few black sheep that partake in wine sipping and Scotch swigging, just behind very, very, very much closed doors. To be caught drinking would mean jail time and branded with the whole scarlet letter thing, shunned by your community. In fact, just past month Afghanistan’s parliament passed a bill concerning alcohol consumption, which for those who buy, sell, or consume will be fined, imprisoned, or given 60 lashes with a whip (ouch), all in accordance with Sharia law.
To all those in Afghanistan we toast to you. Godspeed.
See video break of probably the only people that are drinking in Afghanistan out and about. Go U.S.!
Travel encounter with an iconic past of the Afghanistan culture. Traveling through Khyber Pass on bus.
