kittycat1

Hi all,

I just put in my application form for my alcohol license and they told me its taking 6 weeks at the moment? Anyone any idea if this is true as it says it should be done in 2 weeks on the application form?

Thanks

Kittycat

norsk

Why are you suddenly getting a license KC?

kittycat1

2 reasons norsk- a) having my little xmas shindig so just in case the police get called ( I have rowdy friends) thought it would be best to have my back covered and b) I've been hearing of people that were recently asked for their license when leaving the airport with duty free.

norsk

Well i guess it makes sense to have a license considering the talk about licenses recently. There have been a few newspaper articles recently about how you're actually not even allowed to drink in hotels/bars without a license, but the establishment isn't obliged to ask for your license (only check that you're old enough). And this rule apparently applies to tourists as well so basically whenever you drink in Dubai (as a tourist or resident) you can be arrested at any point. We all knew this anyway though didn't we..

This license thing is just another tax of course, but if it gets hairy I think I will get mine as well. Ridiculous though as it is.

Stopping people coming out of the airport with duty free bags sounds a lot like entrapment, but since the law is vague and they can apply it as they like I guess anything could happen. I'll be coming back from a holiday to Jamaica just before Christmas so was planning to stock up in duty free, and now you got me all nervous about it...

Anyone who can confirm this is not all rumours?

kittycat1

If its a case of you have to have a license to bring it in the country then they shouldn't be selling in duty free without a license- it's ridiculous. I always get pulled over at customs here seems they think a woman traveling alone must have case full on controband so it'd be just my luck to get checked.

norsk

exactly, but then again if what the article said about hotels/bars is true they shouldn't be selling there without requesting a license either. however that would kill dubai as a tourist destination so of course they're not going to apply the law properly until it suits them..

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/ge...otels-1.928063

Oyibopeppeh

Having (or not, as the case may be) an alcohol license is a no-brainer.

I have known of several people in the 15 months I've been here, who (through no fault of their own) have been involved in, or been party to, incidents and accidents where alcohol was a factor.

Invariably, those of them who didn't have a booze license were arrested and banged up. It's just not worth the hassle.

auzdafluff

I've been pulled over every time I've come back since I started to grow my hair. I'm anticipating a similar thing to happen on arriving back from the UK in January.

Also, each time I've been pulled to scan everything through, they've only checked my suitcases; not my duty free bag.

Besides, if I remember right, a colleague on a certain magazine (who's name I'll keep secret, but those of you who know where I work should be able to work it out) was told by a senior figure from Dubai Duty Free that around 85% of its revenue is from selling alcohol, and that it's been told by suppliers it's one of the largest alcohol retailers in the world.

So I very much doubt they'll curb sales like that.

Spugsy

Get a haircut you bloody hippy

mission

in my just over 3 yrs that i have been here, i have never been pulled over in the airport - i travel frequently and always stock up on my booze at the duty free.

I guess those of you do get pulled over probably look guilty as sh*t for some other reason

Being a muslim i'd never be able to obtain a liquor license, but have managed perfectly......have even done runs to barracuda.

Tourists don't need a license - its only if you are a resident.

Sandboy

just renewed mine and took about 3 weeks. never use it, just look on it as a 160AED insurance policy

you don't get pulled by accident at the airport, as you pass the first barrier you set off a little light above

Sandboy

not true, rarely enforced but its a fantastic fall back for them if you piss them off - not that you can get one without a residence visa though

they're missing a trick in my opinion, could sell them to all visitors at the airport for 100-200 AED... easy money

kittycat1

Mission, I've never had any problems in two years but know of 2 different people in the last month or so..

DustyBits

Just got mine last week as a friend of my OH got banged up for not having one (another story).

Took me 6 days (after eventually getting paperwork right) but in AD it's moved from Khalidiya police station to a totally nondescript CID office in the city. Almost impossible to find without detailed directions. Unsurprisingly the ones given out are useless, and even more unsurprisingly the place was empty. I only found it by GPS coordinates, and then had to ask locals for the actual entry door.

24 Deg 27' 28.71" N
54 Deg 23' 22.10" E

DB

Bahtatboy

That's useful info, thanks. After reading this thread (and 3 years of, er, occasional indulgence) I suppose I ought to get a licence. What do I need to do (I'm in AD)?