Stop selling liquor in Egypt!

Egypt's liquor stores are under growing pressure to stop selling alcohol, they say, not from the country's Islamist government, but from society itself.

The shelves of Amir Aziz's central Cairo premises are stacked with beer, wine and spirits, but they are invisible from the street.

Aziz has covered the window with metal sheets to avoid angering conservative Cairo residents.

Like many liquor store owners in Egypt, Aziz says the mood has changed drastically since the 2011 uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak and brought Islamists to power.

"There are no restrictions from the government on the sale of alcohol," Aziz told AFP. "It's the people who are giving us trouble."

Since the fall of Mubarak, Islamists long-suppressed by his regime have set up political parties and gained a voice in the media.

In June, Mohamed Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, was elected Egypt's first civilian president.

Consuming alcohol is banned under sharia, Islamic law, which is the main source of legislation according to Egypt's new constitution.

But Aziz was doubtful the government would move to prohibit the sale of alcohol completely.