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Iranâ€™s Deputy Health Minister: Rising alcohol intake in Iran is worrying

16 May 2012 16:39 (UTC +04:00)

Iran’s Deputy Health Minister Bagher Larijani said they had received reports from hospitals concerning cases related to high alcohol consumption. Larijani said the reports mentioned alcohol-related cases coming from "popular neighborhoods south of Tehran," adding that alcohol consumption was also "high" in some other parts of the country.

The deputy minister said people needed to pay more attention to the "problem of alcohol" rather than diseases like "diabetes, heart illnesses and vascular problems."
Alcohol consumption seems to have increased in Iran in recent years, despite the severe penalties against the production, consumption and trafficking of alcohol. The consumption of alcohol was banned in Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, except for Christian minorities. Official numbers show 60 to 80 million liters of smuggled alcohol entering the country yearly, with only 20 million liters being seized by the authorities. The alcohol black market was estimated at $730 million by a representative from an "anti-trafficking" movement.

Offenders are liable to a fine of 2 million rials (120 dollars), confiscation of driverâ€™s license and prosecution.