Alcohol could be banned from Bahrain International Airport, including all lounges, following the approval of such a proposal by Bahrain's MPs.

MPs approved the proposal during their weekly session yesterday along with a draft bill to stop serving alcohol on all Gulf Air flights, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

This comes despite airline officials telling MPs it has already halted alcoholic drinks and removed booze advertisements from its booklets and leaflets in all aircraft. Parliament also approved nine other proposals and referred them to the Cabinet:

* Transferring unfenced burial mounds in Hamad Town, between roundabout four and seven, to the Housing Ministry to carry out housing projects

* A crackdown on rooms at sheesha cafes, which are being used for immoral acts

* Carrying out maintenance to Ayn Abu Zaiddan natural water spring and a mosque in Duraz

* Establishing a co-operative company to import meat to local traders

* Establishing a new exhibitions and conference centre

* Coming up with a study to develop Civil Defence work and the possibility of establishing mini-fire combating stations across villages and towns

* Increasing Islamic religion classes at schools

* Enhancing and improving anti-obesity services

* Replacing numbered streets with names of prominent figures

Meanwhile, parliament approved five government-drafted bills and referred them to the Shura Council for review:

* Criminalising diesel smuggling and other subsidised petrol products

* Giving Bahrainis pensioners in the private sector a three per cent annual increase

* Aviation agreement between Bahrain and France

* GCC unified law on Ozone Depleting Substances l New legislation for small ships that are not covered under the current Coastguards Law. - TradeArabia News Service