CAIRO – Taking over hundreds of petrol stations across the United Kingdom, one of Britain’s most successful Muslim families has removed alcohol from its shelves, deemed haram in Islam.

“The business has operated a no alcohol policy since it began in 2001,” a spokesman for the company, Euro Garages, was quoted by the Daily Mail.

“This is for ethical reasons, on the basis it retails on forecourts and therefore predominantly to car drivers.”

The petrol stations are part of the fast growing Euro Garages, which has 350 petrol stations across the country.

The business, worth £1.3billion, has embarked on expansion plan which includes procurement of petrol stations previously run by the likes of British Petroleum, Esso and Shell.

Following the takeover, the new owners, have removed displays selling wine, beer and spirits.

Facing controversy over the decision, the company said it did not think it was ethical to sell alcohol to people who are driving.

Euro Garages has a partnership with several household name brands, including Spar, Greggs, Burger King, Subway and Starbucks.

The company was founded by both brothers in 2001 with a single petrol filling station in Bury, Greater Manchester.

Only 15 years ago they were working in a petrol station in Halifax, stock-taking and cleaning the toilets.

However, the brothers took a lease on a local garage with their combined savings of £5,000 and today they control a business with an appraised worth of nearly £1.3billion.

Islam takes an uncompromising stand in prohibiting intoxicants.

It forbids Muslims from drinking or even selling alcohol.

The general rule in Islam is that any beverage that get people intoxicated when taken is unlawful, both in small and large quantities, whether it is alcohol, drugs, fermented raisin drink or something else.