What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
#1
What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
I've been here for 5 years and still don't know the real facts of the law.
Anyone know the actual letter of the law?
Legal to sell it, legal to buy it (with a license to consume at home), brunches galore etc - but with all these cases with one of the offenses as "consumption of alcohol" is it illegal to consume alcohol full stop or are there conditions where it is legal / illegal?
If it is illegal to simply consume, why not arrest everyone leaving a bar? Or is it another whole "grey area" mentality?
Anyone know the actual letter of the law?
Legal to sell it, legal to buy it (with a license to consume at home), brunches galore etc - but with all these cases with one of the offenses as "consumption of alcohol" is it illegal to consume alcohol full stop or are there conditions where it is legal / illegal?
If it is illegal to simply consume, why not arrest everyone leaving a bar? Or is it another whole "grey area" mentality?
#2
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
according to the US department of State...
Drinking or possession of alcohol without a Ministry of Interior liquor permit is illegal and could result in arrest and/or fines and imprisonment. Alcohol is served at bars in most major hotels but is intended for guests of the hotel. Persons who are not guests of the hotel, and who consume alcohol in the restaurants and bars, technically are required to have their own personal liquor licenses. Liquor licenses are issued only to non-Muslim persons who possess UAE residency permits. Public drunkenness and driving under the influence, regardless of one’s blood alcohol content level, are considered serious offenses. Persons arrested on alcohol-related offenses are often jailed for many days as they await a court hearing. Penalties may include hefty jail sentences and fines and, for Muslims (even those holding U.S. citizenship), lashings.
Drinking or possession of alcohol without a Ministry of Interior liquor permit is illegal and could result in arrest and/or fines and imprisonment. Alcohol is served at bars in most major hotels but is intended for guests of the hotel. Persons who are not guests of the hotel, and who consume alcohol in the restaurants and bars, technically are required to have their own personal liquor licenses. Liquor licenses are issued only to non-Muslim persons who possess UAE residency permits. Public drunkenness and driving under the influence, regardless of one’s blood alcohol content level, are considered serious offenses. Persons arrested on alcohol-related offenses are often jailed for many days as they await a court hearing. Penalties may include hefty jail sentences and fines and, for Muslims (even those holding U.S. citizenship), lashings.
#3
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
I've been here for 5 years and still don't know the real facts of the law.
Anyone know the actual letter of the law?
Legal to sell it, legal to buy it (with a license to consume at home), brunches galore etc - but with all these cases with one of the offenses as "consumption of alcohol" is it illegal to consume alcohol full stop or are there conditions where it is legal / illegal?
If it is illegal to simply consume, why not arrest everyone leaving a bar? Or is it another whole "grey area" mentality?
Anyone know the actual letter of the law?
Legal to sell it, legal to buy it (with a license to consume at home), brunches galore etc - but with all these cases with one of the offenses as "consumption of alcohol" is it illegal to consume alcohol full stop or are there conditions where it is legal / illegal?
If it is illegal to simply consume, why not arrest everyone leaving a bar? Or is it another whole "grey area" mentality?
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/ge...on-ts-1.462873
#4
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
I've been here for 5 years and still don't know the real facts of the law.
Anyone know the actual letter of the law?
Legal to sell it, legal to buy it (with a license to consume at home), brunches galore etc - but with all these cases with one of the offenses as "consumption of alcohol" is it illegal to consume alcohol full stop or are there conditions where it is legal / illegal?
If it is illegal to simply consume, why not arrest everyone leaving a bar? Or is it another whole "grey area" mentality?
Anyone know the actual letter of the law?
Legal to sell it, legal to buy it (with a license to consume at home), brunches galore etc - but with all these cases with one of the offenses as "consumption of alcohol" is it illegal to consume alcohol full stop or are there conditions where it is legal / illegal?
If it is illegal to simply consume, why not arrest everyone leaving a bar? Or is it another whole "grey area" mentality?
As a resident you can have and consume alcohol in your home if you have a license. As a resident you also need to have a license to drink in bars and hotels. It is not illegal to drink but it is illegal to be drunk or drink in public. Public decency and all that.
Yet another 1 of those laws that can be used as and when they feel like it.
I have tried to find the actual law but I can't. I have spoken to a friend's husband who is a local policeman. He says it very much depends on
A. the policeman involved.
B. The way the person drinking behaves or reacts.
C. The whereabouts and the situation.
Maybe you should write to that legal chap at the Gulf News, he has a legal advise thingy on a Friday.
Not much help I am afraid.
#5
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2009
Location: Back in the best hemisphere...
Posts: 474
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
Positively tribal.
#6
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
Some guidelines that seem to say if you live here, get a license.
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/ge...on-ts-1.462873
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/ge...on-ts-1.462873
And this article is totally unclear as well, if not even contradictory.
Again - if the law is clear then:-
a) print this and publiscise this so it is clear for all to understand
b) arrest every one in who breaks this law (from what I can see 80% of Western expats at some point and some every day of the week).
#7
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
It is definately a grey area.
As a resident you can have and consume alcohol in your home if you have a license. As a resident you also need to have a license to drink in bars and hotels. It is not illegal to drink but it is illegal to be drunk or drink in public. Public decency and all that.
Yet another 1 of those laws that can be used as and when they feel like it.
I have tried to find the actual law but I can't. I have spoken to a friend's husband who is a local policeman. He says it very much depends on
A. the policeman involved.
B. The way the person drinking behaves or reacts.
C. The whereabouts and the situation.
Maybe you should write to that legal chap at the Gulf News, he has a legal advise thingy on a Friday.
Not much help I am afraid.
As a resident you can have and consume alcohol in your home if you have a license. As a resident you also need to have a license to drink in bars and hotels. It is not illegal to drink but it is illegal to be drunk or drink in public. Public decency and all that.
Yet another 1 of those laws that can be used as and when they feel like it.
I have tried to find the actual law but I can't. I have spoken to a friend's husband who is a local policeman. He says it very much depends on
A. the policeman involved.
B. The way the person drinking behaves or reacts.
C. The whereabouts and the situation.
Maybe you should write to that legal chap at the Gulf News, he has a legal advise thingy on a Friday.
Not much help I am afraid.
I know the reality is "use common sense and you'll be fine" - however that's such a crap way to behave, especially as a tourist destination!
#8
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
I've got one, but does that cover my wife? Where does it say this on the license that it allows you to drink anywhere? So technically if you are a tourist / business person staying at the Burj and you have a drink at The Address Hotel you are technically breaking the law?
And this article is totally unclear as well, if not even contradictory.
Again - if the law is clear then:-
a) print this and publiscise this so it is clear for all to understand
b) arrest every one in who breaks this law (from what I can see 80% of Western expats at some point and some every day of the week).
And this article is totally unclear as well, if not even contradictory.
Again - if the law is clear then:-
a) print this and publiscise this so it is clear for all to understand
b) arrest every one in who breaks this law (from what I can see 80% of Western expats at some point and some every day of the week).
#9
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
You need to get your wife put onto your license. My wife is on mine, her name is not on the card but if she goes into MMI or A&E with the card they can check and see her name linked to it.
I don't think they will ever publish a definitive set of rules, that would mean people would know what their rights are here.
I don't think they will ever publish a definitive set of rules, that would mean people would know what their rights are here.
#10
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
You need to get your wife put onto your license. My wife is on mine, her name is not on the card but if she goes into MMI or A&E with the card they can check and see her name linked to it.
I don't think they will ever publish a definitive set of rules, that would mean people would know what their rights are here.
I don't think they will ever publish a definitive set of rules, that would mean people would know what their rights are here.
#11
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
Anyone able to put this info into the wiki in bullet points? Could be handy...I don't mind helping out with the formatting but someone needs to put the info together.
#12
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
I've got one, but does that cover my wife? Where does it say this on the license that it allows you to drink anywhere? So technically if you are a tourist / business person staying at the Burj and you have a drink at The Address Hotel you are technically breaking the law?
And this article is totally unclear as well, if not even contradictory.
Again - if the law is clear then:-
a) print this and publiscise this so it is clear for all to understand
b) arrest every one in who breaks this law (from what I can see 80% of Western expats at some point and some every day of the week).
And this article is totally unclear as well, if not even contradictory.
Again - if the law is clear then:-
a) print this and publiscise this so it is clear for all to understand
b) arrest every one in who breaks this law (from what I can see 80% of Western expats at some point and some every day of the week).
#13
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
seriously though - the law has to have been published somewhere? I did read of a 1972 (err hello!) decree about alcohol, but that was about the sale of, not the consumption of...
#14
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
Logic ftw
#15
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,028
Re: What is really the law concerning alcohol consumption in the UAE?
so technically, from the little info we seem to have here, if me, Mrs Auto, you and Mrs Spugsy go for some drinks at a hotel we are not staying in (god forbid a sporting or musical event - as no one is staying there, therefore everyone is breaking the law) then me and you are fine, but our wives are breaking the law...
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