CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL AND EAT PORK IN IRAN?

[Mahdi Eshraghi]

Drinking alcohol is against the law in Iran and no shops are permitted to sell it. Anyone caught in possession of alcohol faces arrest and in the case of a tourist face deportation.

In its latest report on alcoholic drinks market in Iran the Euromonitor has reported that the alcoholic drinks market in Iran comprises only non-alcoholic beer as Islamic law forbids the consumption, manufacture and trade of alcohol in any form among Muslims. Such regulations have created very strong demand for non-alcoholic beer.

Iranian police dump confiscated beer cans in Tehran. AFP

Anti-smuggling initiatives from the Iranian government, coupled with health awareness campaigns about the consumption of cola carbonates and campaigns encouraging the drinking of non-alcoholic beer, further boosted demand in 2014. Euromonitor

People in Iran tend to drink tea, Sharbat (a cool, sweet drink known as the world’s first soft drink) or doogh (a savoury yogurt drink).

Persian Tea. Photo by Parisa Yazdanjoo, Flickr

 

Sharbat-e Tokhme Sharbat. Photo by Azita, Turmeric & Saffron

 

Doogh (Drinking Yogurt)

 

Alcohol free beer is also available

Pork is not available. When it comes to meat most Iranians tend to eat chicken, beef or lamb, all of which are widely available.