Bahrain MP demands imposing taxes on alcohol products

Manama : A Bahraini MP demanded the Government today to impose taxes on alcohol products sold in the Kingdom, doubling and tripling their prices.

This happened few minutes ago, as MP Mohammed Al Maarifi expressed his rejection to the government's intention to impose taxes on tobacco products and soft and energy drinks, as they're "harmful to people's health".

Al Maarifi said, "If the government is really concerned about the public's health and is not simply imposing additional levies, they should consider putting a tax on alcoholic products."

Al Maarifi's statement came during the discussion, which is still ongoing in the Parliament House at the moment, of a bill that stipulates joining the GCC’s unified agreement on selective taxation and Value Added Tax (VAT).

The bill mentioned imposing taxes on selective products that are harmful to health, including tobacco products (100 percent), carbonated drinks (50 pc) and energy drinks (100 pc).

The discussion is continued at the House of Representatives in Gudaibiya in the presence of Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, who signed both agreements earlier this year and is justifying the bill before the MPs stating that "It's a tough decision to avoid tougher issues".