They took a 1L duty-free bottle off me at the airport. Is drinking in Damascus actually finished now or can you still buy a sealed bottle somewhere. Not looking for a bar crawl, just whether it is done.

Not illegal. There are still shops. I have walked out with a sealed bottle in Damascus in front of police and nobody cared. Pubs / restaurants getting told to stop serving at the table is a different thing from shops.

The airport taking a litre can just be liquids / they hold it at customs. Happened to someone with wine, they collected it on the way out. Annoying, not a nationwide dry law.

Do not pack a carton as your plan. Buy here if you even want it. I would ask the hotel if they still pour, some tourism places still do, random cafes will not.

I am not listing shops. Christian quarters still have licensed places for sealed bottles. Street drinking is a bad idea anyway.