Oman alcohol ban could drive ‘lethal’ illicit trade

Following last week’s vote to completely ban the sale and consumption of alcohol in Oman, experts have warned production could be driven underground.

Experts have warned that if a vote to completely ban the sale and consumption of alcohol in Oman is out into law, this could lead to “dangerous” consequences

On 9 December, members of Oman’s Shura council voted to implement a blanket ban on the production, sale and consumption of alcohol, bringing the nation in line with other Gulf Arab states.

Currently, non-Muslims are able to obtain a permit to buy alcohol in Oman, restricting alcohol to those visiting the country, while those found producing alcohol without the relevant permit could face up to three years in jail.

However, psychologists in the country have warned that if the vote is passed into law, the illicit alcohol market will soar, and drinkers may even turn to drugs including opium and marijuana.

“Heavy drinking is a psychological problem and banning alcohol will not solve it,” Ibtisam Al Busaidi, a psychologist at Oman’s Modern College of Business and Science told Times of Oman.

“Drugs are illegal in Oman, yet we still have drug addicts and drug abusers. My concern is that a person who wants to drink will go to any lengths to get it.

“The ban could encourage alcohol to be sold on the black market, and worse, people could illegally distil the brew, which could be lethal and lead to many deaths.”

Other experts claim that prohibition does not necessarily stem consumption and that educational measures need to be taken to inform people of the harms of excessive consumption, instead of adopting an outright ban.

Meanwhile, economists have argued that Oman’s government will suffer from a significant loss of tax revenue at a time when oil prices are low.

Ahmed Al Habsi, an economic analyst at Capital Investment Company, told Times of Oman: “The government now needs an income to replace lost earnings from lower oil prices and the ban would take precious tax revenues from alcohol sale.

“It will also force the government to spend more money to be vigilant at the borders and the sea to watch out for smugglers.”

Earlier this year, the Indian state of Kerala – India’s largest consumer of alcohol – upheld plans to enforce partial prohibition in order to tackle the region’s drinking problem.