Getting loaded on the way to Mecca

There aren’t actually many Muslim/Arab states in which alcohol is illegal. I’ve been to Jordan a few times and they all drink as if there’s no tomorrow… The same applies to Lebanon and others.

I thought that airlines flying into countries where booze is illegal were allowed to keep unsold alcohol (instead of throwing it away) but that it had to be locked away in a special compartment well before landing with one person (say the head steward) being the only keyholder. The authorities would then come and do their checks if they wanted to, and the airline would wait until the plane was away before unlocking the drinks.

Can’t remember where I heard this though… probably read it in a mag or something.

The stories are a little crazy, but that’s their culture so you have to live with it. However, those that cannot make a flight without alcohol consumption….. I am somewhat worried about 😉

As you may know the UAE is made up of several different Emirates – some of which are dry (Sharjah) and others which are not (Dubai) It is not unusual to see the hotel bars in Dubai full of arabs having a drink or 3 particularly if they come from a ‘dry’ emirate.

Won’t those religious police be able to smell that you had something to drink? If they do smell it, would that be sufficient grounds for arrest?

Actually on arrival the authorities are not too bad, I usually arrive ****ed out of my head as its the last booze I get for 6 months but I try and behave as sensibly as possible. If you are obviously falling around and being stupid you will draw attention to yourself. I think it fair to say that on some flights I have been on that most of the single blokes have been in the same condition as me. As far as I know the only dry (major) airlines in this area are Kuwait and Saudia and maybe Iranair?. I dont know about the North African arab airlines like Libyan arab. My work colleague once came back on BA sitting next to a Saudi national. He produced a bottle of Glenfiddich and asked my colleague if he wanted some and he had a small snifter. This bloke then proceeded to drink the whole bottle and was out for the count at Jeddah. Two paramilitaries came on the plane and carried him off in a wheel chair, looked in his bag for his passport wheeled him through immigration and customs and handed him over to his relatives outside. My colleague stayed with him the whole way as he was worried about him. The two paramilitaries said he was unwell and to come back for his luggage the next day to his relatives. So occasionally the wisdom of Solomon is practiced here.

There’s alcohol a plenty on Emirates, they’re from Dubai which is a relatively liberal Arab state. And I can tell you it’s one of my favourite airlines, very good service all round.

Is it safe to assume then, that Emirates is also an alcohol free carrier? That being the case, that would be sufficient grounds for me NOT to fly them. 😉

Won’t those religious police be able to smell that you had something to drink? If they do smell it, would that be sufficient grounds for arrest?

Interesting concept that.. religious police ? In LAX you can get frisked by the fashion police for dressing like an “Austrailian tourist’s nightmare”* 😀

*quote “This is Spinal Tap”

No

As far as I am aware, only the consumption ON their ground is forbidden. Consumption en-route via another carrier is fine.

Anyone know if there is any truth to this?

I think there is a Middle East airline that does not
serve booze but pax are invited to bring their own onboard.? Anyone know.?

Won’t those religious police be able to smell that you had something to drink? If they do smell it, would that be sufficient grounds for arrest?

So it’s a case of drink-up quickly before landing then? 😀

It certainly is – not so easy as the stewardess comes towards you and you still have 2 full cans of Heineken and a nip but I always manage 😉 :p :p

So it’s a case of drink-up quickly before landing then? 😀

I journalist colleague of mine swears that he once caught a Saudi flight to the Kingdom and the cabin staff refused to serve alcohol. However the cabin staff then offered complimentary bottles of whiskey to anybody who wanted to take one and drink at will, saying they were’nt against drinking, but simply their religion forbade them to serve it!

Anyone know if there is any truth to this?

I assume he was on Saudia which I fly from time to time backwards and forwards from here and I would say it is an absolute load of nonsense. There is a contingent of Religious police (called Muttawa) based at the international airports here who go on board aircraft to check for that very reason ie any evidence of alcohol. Furthermore many muslims on the Saudia flights know that the airline is supposed to be alcohol free and would report it on arrival which would result in the arrest of the crew. Even BA who serve booze say all traces of booze (empties) must be disposed of before landing and they are quite rigourous about it. That is not to say a crew member might not have acted on their own initiative but risking imprisonment and the loss of your job plus a possibe flogging seems a lot to risk just to be nice to your customers.
Good story but complete B******S 😀 😀

I was once offered a pink Cadillac for my whisky ration in Bahrain, but turned it down, because I figured I wouldn’t be able to load it onto the RAF VC10 and get it home after the end of my tour!