'An American man has been found guilty of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest after turning up drunk at the American Consulate and trying to gain entry to the building late at night. The 35-year-old visitor from Florida, will spend one month in jail for the charges and was fined dhs2000 for drinking alcohol.'

Is this an error, and was he fined for being drunk and disorderly?

How can a visitor be fined for drinking alcohol? I've heard what I thought was an urban myth that unless you have a liquor license, in theory you are not allowed to drink any alcohol anywhere.

It's more likely that they mean he was drunk...

you can be arrested and charged for being drunk in every country in the world.

But technically - you aren't allowed to drink unless you have a licence. Which is why they don't issue them to Muslims.

Thanks - application for liquor license is next on my to-do-list.

You can do it at the A&E or MMI. The boss just renewed hers and A&E were doing a deal where you pay 150.00AED for the license but then they give a choice of certain products as a kick back....

4 bottles or wine (their choice x red + 2 white)
A case of Sol
A case of Smirn Ice

We never bothered before as we used Barracuda, but then for the sake of 150 I couldn't be decided if there was ever any hassle with the police it would be good to have one... . Better to have it and never need it ect etc

Again, not sure if this another one of the stories doing the rounds but was told not to go to Barracude without a license as people were being asked for money by various characters waiting outside, 50-100dh, or else they would call the police with license numbers for when you were back into Dubai.

True or not, we've decided to wait on going until we have a license.

I think the major problem with Barracuda is that you generally have to go through Sharjah to get back to Dubai

Just like Cannonball Run.

My favourite film!!! dan, dan, daaahh!!!

If you have a license that is still ok... but I guess most Barracuda punters don't...

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles.../10050972.html

Have you heard or seen this site?

Anonline booze shop in RAK.

I haven't tried it yet. If anyone has or does let us know how it went.

You don't anymore now that the Emirates Road is fully open.

When we got stopped in Sharjah it's because we took the wrong road

Although the coppers do seem to make a point of patrolling the link road between Emirates Road and the coast road that Barracuda is on...

There is also a "hole in the wall" in Ajman opposite the Kempinski Hotel just behind the court house.

The chances of anything happening are slim to be honest with you, the ammount of locals that use these places is amazing they would be the first ones targated !!