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Map of alcohol in the G.C.C 4, October 2010

Posted by thegulfblog.com in Random.
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This map is taken from the excellent and intriguing cominganarchy.com . Fairly obviously, it shows how available alcohol is in the G.C.C. states.

I’ve noted already that Qatar is wrong: you can buy alcohol in Doha with a license. Also, it may be worth nothing that alcohol in Kuwait and K.S.A. is freely available if expensive on the black market.

This post also offers me the opportunity to flag up the best April Fool’s joke ever in the Kuwait Times some years ago (the link at the bottom).

Alcohol consumption up in UAE and Saudi 15, July 2010

Posted by thegulfblog.com in Saudi Arabia, The Emirates.
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Alcohol consumption in the U.A.E. has risen some 30% in the last five years. As the article in Arabian Business notes, this is despite increasingly more difficult restrictions on alcohol sales. The same study stated that alcohol consumption in Saudi Arabia has almost doubled since 2004. This statistic obviously makes no mistakes as everyone knows that there is no alcohol in the holy Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Hat Tip: Sultan Al Qasseimi

Qatar to stop selling alcohol? 20, February 2010

Posted by thegulfblog.com in Kuwait, Qatar.
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Rumors are afoot that Qatar’s only off-license where residents can purchase alcohol is to close for good. At the moment, the office is not issuing any new licenses, though this is theoretically only a temporary measure. However, thirsty locals are clearly fearing that this is but the beginning. Yet, so far as I can see, this supposition is based on essentially nothing: typical ex-pat gossip.

I’ve always thought that Qatar’s way of handling alcohol was rather mature. The country needs foreign ex-pats. Such workers tend to want to buy and consume alcohol. Instead of the ridiculous situation in Kuwait where people simply buy alcohol on the black market, try to smuggle it in or make it at home, in Qatar the monthly ration seems to be a good idea. Whilst personally I don’t much care either way, here’s hoping that sense prevails.

On a similar note here’s a link to the best April Fool’s Day joke ever. Hook, line and sinker, it worked 100% on me when I saw it in the Kuwait Times back in 2007.