Lebanon Gives Hope For Bottle Expansion

In a region where Islam prevails, winemaking can be a failing trade. It is well known that Muslims are prohibited from drinking, serving, selling & buying alcohol and some Arab societies frown upon alcohol consumption. Lebanon, however, is an exception to the rule. When you arrive in Beirut, you can't help but notice the billboards around advertising different brands of beer, wine, whiskey and other alcoholic beverages. This is fairly unusual in the Arab world where most countries, including Egypt, Syria and the Gulf region, forbid alcohol advertising in general. This article gives an insight into Lebanon's burgeoning wine industry, which is bucking the trend for alcohol-based glass containers in the Middle East.