29 Things You Should Never Do In Iraq

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Don’t Drink In Public

Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com

Even though it’s legal to drink alcohol in Iraq, drinking in public areas is prohibited. Sale and consumption in holy cities and religious sites, such as the Imam Hussain’s Shrine in Karbala and the Al-Jawadain Holy Shrine in Baghdad, are absolutely forbidden. Before, the strictly Islamic city of Mosul banned alcohol and punished those caught drinking with public lashings. While Iraq doesn’t grant alcohol licenses to Muslim citizens since Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol, Yazidi or Christian residents can own liquor stores and sell alcoholic drinks. However, even though there are no longer any restrictions on consuming alcohol in major cities, both buyers and sellers still take certain precautions. If you plan to enjoy a few bottles of beer or wine or cups of arak, check first if you’re allowed to drink where you’re staying since some hotels do not allow drinking on the premises. The same applies to Iraqi Kurdistan. Even though it’s easier to get a hold of alcohol in that region since there are liquor stores everywhere, don’t just open a bottle while walking down the street.