Lashes as a punishment can refer to a sharp slap or strike with a rope or whip. However, in some countries, lashes are used as a form of corporal punishment for lawbreakers. In Iran, for example, Muslims who drink alcohol can be sentenced to 80 lashes. In Saudi Arabia, flogging is a common form of punishment for a range of offenses, including drug use, theft, and extramarital sex. The number of lashes can vary depending on the offense and the country, and the severity of the punishment can also depend on the method used to administer the lashes. In Saudi Arabia, for example, the punishment is usually broken up into weekly bouts of 50 lashings each, while in other countries, more forceful whippings can cause permanent damage to internal organs and muscles, severe blood loss, shock, and even death. In Judaism, lashes may be given for offenses that do not merit capital punishment, and may not exceed 40. However, in the absence of a Sanhedrin, corporal punishment is not practiced in Jewish law.