Syria alcohol curbs push up prices in Kurdish northeast

New alcohol taxes and stricter rules in Syria are pushing up prices and squeezing bars and shops in the Kurdish-majority northeast, where residents say supplies have become harder to obtain.

In Qamishli, shopkeeper Ayaz Ibrahim said customers who once bought half a litre of whisky for $7 now pay $12. He said many shelves at his alcohol shop were empty because new stock was scarce and smuggled alcohol cost more to bring in.

The pressure has grown since Damascus took control of the nearby Semalka border crossing with Iraq in April under a deal to integrate Kurdish military and civilian institutions into the Syrian state.

Syria's Islamist-led authorities have not officially banned alcohol imports, but they have imposed higher taxes and tighter rules on consumption. Syrian media circulated a finance ministry decision this year requiring importers and producers to pay increased taxes on alcoholic drinks.

Finance Minister Mohammed Barnieh said on social media that the measure was meant to limit consumption of products damaging to health, raise revenue for health-sector and social security programmes, and encourage Syrian exports.

Bar workers and customers in Qamishli said the changes had reduced nightlife. Karl Hussein, 25, said he used to go out on Thursday nights and whenever he had the chance, but now goes out about once a month.

Bar worker Shuaib Hamdi said high prices had left his bar nearly empty apart from regular customers. He said the authorities had earlier restricted sales in Damascus to some Christian districts and that customers now tell him service was better before.