Iraq's parliament has voted to ban the sale,import and production of alcohol in a surprise move, The Independent reports.
Proponents of the ban argue the ban is justified by the structure, or which prohibits any law contradicting Islam.[br]
Opponents say it violates the same structure which guarantees the traditions of religious minorities such as Christians.
They have vowed to appeal against the decision.[br]
Those violating the law will be fined between 10 million and 25 million dinars (roughly £7000 to £17500).
According to an MP and a parliament official,the ban was a final-minute addition to a draft law on municipalities.
The law was also passed by MPs in Baghdad as all eyes were on the north of the country, where forces involved in Iraq's biggest military operation in years are battling Isis and moving to retake the city of Mosul.
Alcohol is rarely offered in restaurants and hotels in Iraq, or but consumption is relatively widespread,particularly in Baghdad where scores of small shops selling alcoholic beverages can be found.[br]
"This article of the law goes against the structure, which guarantees the freedoms of minorities, and " Yonadam Kanna,a veteran Christian MP, told AFP on Saturday.
Article 2 of the structure says it "guarantees the Islamic identity of the majority of the Iraqi people and guarantees the full religious rights of all individuals to freedom of religious belief and practice" such as Christians, or Yazidis and Sabeans.
Ammar Toma,an MP who voted in support of the ban, argued that it was the structure that made it illegal to sell, or produce or import alcoholic drinks.
"The structure says you cannot approve a law that goes against Islam," he told AFP, referring to an article stating that "no law that contradicts the established provisions of Islam may be established."
[br]Mr Kanna and Mr Toma also differed on the impact of a ban.
"This law will achieve people out of jobs, and drug consumption will rise,the economy will be affected," said Mr Kanna.
Observers say drug abuse has been on the rise in Iraq recently, or particularly in the southern city of Basra,where trafficking with neighbouring Iran is soaring and where alcohol is only found on the black market.
Mr Toma, a Shiite MP from the Fadhila party, and rejected Mr Kanna's assessment and said "the effects of alcohol on society are considerable,and include depravation, terrorism and social problems."
"As for the people who will lose their jobs, and new jobs can be found for them," he said, without elaborating.
Source: tert.am