Qatar & achohol

[Suetheramble]

My son is about to accept a job in Qatar. I am concerned because he does drink a lot. What will happen if he is found to be drunk in this country?

[237SJ]

You can drink in the hotels in Doha. I`m not sure what would happen if you were drunk while out and about though.

[DTCwordfan]

It is NOT tolerated if you get drunk in public and cause any indecent behaviour. You could be sent to prison for a certain amount of time, receive a fine, or both at least two weeks. Any person found drink driving is punished for a minimum of 1 month's prison and could face deportation. Your company will also gravely view this it could be a breach of contract.

[boxtops]

If you are living on compound, you can drink on the compound only. Problems if it's outside the restricted areas.

[Sqad]

UAE are quite strict........I agree with 237SJ, one can drink in the hotels and in the home BUT, if he was found drunk, then he would be thrown into the "slammer" smartish and possibly extradited.

[DTCwordfan]

http://thepeninsulaqa...-for-drunkenness.html

[237SJ]

Qatar`s not UAE though Sqad. Sorry to sound like a pedant. I`ve knocked back a few beers in Doha alongside a few of the locals who like to come in for the odd beer when the Imam isn`t looking!

[boxtops]

Agree, each of the Gulf States has its own level of tolerance...

[Sqad]

237SJ....ooops! sorry.

[237SJ]

Most of them have very little tolerance but they let people drink in the hotels because they`d attract a lot less foreign workers if they didn`t. Only Saudi and Kuwait are dry (that I frequent).

[Sqad]

boxy....we are talking about drunkenness outside the home......all the UAE and Qatar have the same level of tolerance to this particular exhibitionism.

[Sqad]

237SJ...I couls tell you many a story about drinking alcohol in Saudia Arabia...LOL

I was asked to operate on the child of a Saudi pilot and as the result was successful, the whole theatre staff were invited to his villa for a celebratory meal. 12 places were set at the table and each setting had one cooked chicken and one bottle of whiskey.

[boxtops]

OP didn't specify, sqad - I think we're all aware that alcohol outside designated areas is forbidden.

[Duncer]

The UAE isn't that strict at all, and Qatar is similar in that you can have a small libation in the hotel bars. The golden rule is, if p1ssed, get a recognised taxi home and go straight home; don't go swanning about the place as if you were stil in the UK.

Sqad, would love to swap drunken Saudi tales; I have many happy memories of the pace.

When in the UAE I had occasion to go and "rescue" hungover staff from the local police station. The Chief Constable was a wily old b*gger and was well used to drunken Westerners. A night in the slammer with about twenty locals and a hole in the ground for a toilet, (literally), usually convinced them to behave in future. When releasing them Fahad used to let them get near to the gate and then call them back to clear up some "paperwork". He and I would then enjoy a small nip while this non-existent paperwork was cleared up.

If your son were to transgress then deportation is the likely outcome.

[Sqad]

Duncer.....LOL....I bet that you could tell a few stories about Saudi Arabia.

I was in Tabuk, Dharhran and Khamis Mushat.

I could tell you a few stories about Saudi princesses as well....;-)

[Sqad]

Dancer...ooops!almost forgot AND Riyadh.

[Duncer]

I worked in Wadi al Dawasir after several years in the UAE, but visited Riyadh as a friend worked there, and had many a drunken night in Andalus Playa or Scandalous Playa as some called it. Also visited Khamis several times as my good pal Keith worked there.

[Sqad]

Duncer......right....stories that couldn't be told on AB.....;-)

[237SJ]

We used to go to a compound of a large British company. They had a whole bar with taps for home brew, beer mats and the works. We had their beer and they gave us a bottle of home brew port which we smuggled back to the hotel under our abeyas. Some years later there was a bit of a to-do when one of their employees was caught drink driving and he tried to claim that the company had promoted their bar as one of their perks. I think he ended up in the slammer.

[Duncer]

Indeed sqad - did you ever frequent Scandalous Playa?

[Suetheramble]

Thank you this may teach the little blighter a lesson :-)