Panic spread first on social media, says pub owner Safi over the bar counter in his cellar pub in the capital's Old Town area. According to rumors, the armed soldiers from the Islamist movement Hayat Tahrir al-Shams (HTS), which now controls the neighborhoods, would crack down on alcohol serving. But Safi took the bull by the horns and went to the local police station.
I told them that I own a bar and that I would like to have a party and serve alcoholic drinks, he says to AFP.
They replied: "Yes, open the place, there are no problems with that. You have the right to work and live your life as you did before", continues Safi, with pop music blaring in the background.
When Safi's pub reopened, after four days of closure, he describes the guests as confused and scared.
The HTS regime has not yet made any public statement about alcohol, but an HTS source denies rumors that the group wants to introduce a ban on alcohol and tells AFP that the regime has "bigger problems to deal with" than alcohol.
Restaurant owner Yezan Shalash says to AFP that HTS soldiers came when his restaurant reopened, but that they left their weapons at the door and assured that they were not there to intimidate.
They treated us very well yesterday, but I'm afraid that this will only be temporary, he says.
