Drinking in Qatar
I am a little confused as to what is allowed or tolerated as as far as Qataris being allowed to drink.
On Monday evening I went with a female friend for a late supper at the Chinese restaurant in the Oasis hotel. We got there at about 9.30pm but there were no tables available. The tables were all taken by Qataris wearing national dress and drinking beer or wine. Hardly anyone was eating.
One Qatari who was sitting at a table on his own kindly gave up his table for us and went and joined another Qatari who was also sitting on his own.
On the table next to us were two middle aged Qatari gentleman who were clearly enjoying the music of the Phillipino duo who play there every night. One of the two gentleman, got up and started singing and dancing and clearly enjoyed himself.
He went from table to table shaking hands and dancing. A couple of other Qataris came up to us and told us not to take offense, that the dancing man was very nice but had had too much to drink. I was not at all offended, just surprised.
The dancing man then came over to us and put two fresh beers on our table. A couple of minutes later, he did the same again. It was well meant but I did not feel like drinking.
What I don't understand is that Qataris are not allowed in the bar of the Oasis but they are allowed to drink in the restaurant. This means that he restaurant becomes a de facto bar.
Can anyone explain to me how all this works and what is tolerated and what isn't?
With reference to your original post. The Chinese restaurant at the Oasis is rented out to a third party, while the bar is run by the hotel.
This is as per my knowledge.
I would like to drink it :)))
Even the laws are not equally applied. PC need not be a computer.
PC is more than a computer
Its not just Gulf, but in most of the places its the same thing.
Judging people by nationality, job, religion, gender...
let people get on with their own lives, who are we to judge.
Police cars outside would deter people but then they wouldn't catch anyone.
I would be very surprised if the records weren't already reviewed.
But if they really wanted to catch the people on-selling alcohol, they can simply access their purchase records. Just look at all the people buying multiple cases of Whisky/vodka etc on a Thursday night. Bars usually stock up on week days.
Anyone serious about on-selling will not be doing it in public outside the QDC. And a cop car outside would stop all the people tempted.
Happy happy
Just my wife saying that your daughter is looking like Hermione of Herry Potter (My family is great fan of Herry Potter)is true??? (Time for building...Right)
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One can see everything from Eyes, except his own Eyes...
(Pal Pal Bikhra Jewan)
and I am not taking a position against Qatari muslims. I have no right to judge them and if they don't hurt anyone, I don't care what they do.
SFD, I didn't mean to offend you and I am sorry that I did. I just feel that we all spend too much time critizing and not enough time building.
Richard please check, who was the in above list first to support your views against So called Muslim Qataries......
May i give more examples??? to prove i am not a biased person.
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One can see everything from Eyes, except his own Eyes...
(Pal Pal Bikhra Jewan)
Don't think that the arabic looking guys waiting outside for a chat are not cops ;)
I'm all for allowing everyone to drink. A few more chilled out people is what this place needs. Besides - they probably have drivers waiting for them so they will be safe on the roads.
Also - once you have your Liquor licence. Don't go there on a Thursday night. Far too busy and there are lots of Arabic blokes outside the gates wishing to have a chat. I presume about the contents of your purchase and how much you would need to part from it. Strangely - no cops about. Perhaps would be different if it was an area where maids met their boyfriends - different story/thread though.
Funny story dweller, keep them coming!
The talk about drinking reminded me of this story:
Two buddies, Bob and Larry, are getting very drunk at a bar when suddenly Larry throws up all over himself.
"Oh, no...Now my wife will kill me!"
Bob says. "Don't worry, pal. Just tuck a twenty in your breast
pocket and tell your wife that someone threw up on you and gave you twenty dollars for the dry cleaning bill."
So they stay for another couple of hours and get even drunker.
Eventually Larry stumbles home and his wife starts to give him a bad time.
"You reek of alcohol and you've puked all over yourself! My God,you're disgusting!"
Speaking very carefully so as not to slur his words, Larry says, "Nowainaminit, I can e'splain everythin. Itsh snot wha jew think.
I only had a cupla drrrinks. But thiss other guy got ssick on me...he had one too many! and he juss koudin hold hizz liquor.
He said he was verrry sorry an' gave me twennie bucks for the cleaning bill!"
His wife looks in the breast pocket and says, "But this is forty bucks.."
"Oh, yeah.. I almos' fergot, he shhhit in my pants, too."
Richard, in no way shape or form did I feel what you wrote that you were judging anyone!
You do have to go to your company for a letter stating how much money you make. Take that to the liquor store (along with your passport) and depending on how much money you make you will be able to spend a certain amount each month. Usually that means that you can spend more there then one ever would, or could for that matter
I don't want Khamr. Please let us abandon Khamr in Qatar. If Western people abandoned Khamr, Qatar will abandon it, In-Sah-Allah. Qatar wants to satisfy Western people.
you are right. She is my 10 year old daughter and thank you for the compliment.
richard, i wanted to tell you earlier that the girl in your avatar is masha'allah very pretty.she looks very young so i will fathom a guess that she is your daughter.
happy heart
drive safe because someone is waiting for you at home
yes richard, you are right.
actually the fairies kind of distract you from posting or reading the post right.
i too am a bit lost but i like looking at the flashy stuff.it gets me smiling.
happy heart
drive safe because someone is waiting for you at home
I don't think I really understood anything of your post but you seem happy and nice and that's good enough for me.
These fairy is a symbol of light to enlightens people so people feel good every time they see her!!!
Have a nice pleasant day to all!!!
Do unto others, what you want to do unto you!!!
you are in some zone, kiara, with your flashy logos,
its cute :-)
frankly i am not sure to comment or just be happy observing the flashy fairies.
happy heart
drive safe because someone is waiting for you at home
Being around in an Arab country for the last past 12 years!!!
Last Christmas, we were in Bahrain International hotel bar with our kids, they have game machine area that keeps the kids occupied while parents are having a couple of drink at the bar, now, that is not allowed in UK I believe.
But in Bahrain, I saw this couple obviously from Saudi Arabia, the woman is well covered with mask. I couldn't believe myself seeing her with her husband lifting her veil to drink beer!!!
See the point? they are trying to change and explore why people do this and why people do that? they're must be curious why people drink and so they start joining the club as we say you can't beat them join them.
Now, my point is I did not judge them!!! because you point your finger to someone three of your fingers is pointing back to you!!! What serious mortal sin was, if someone kill somebody, then you can call this person a criminal. they are not criminal! so why judge them?
This fact about the punishment you are talking about is their own societies decisions, so why be problematic and give yourself a problem thinking about it??? That means you're judging them!!!! Being judge mental is not a good thing, make a habit of thinking nice towards other people then you will feel light and blessed!!!
Okey children that's the lesson for the day!!!
Do unto others, what you want to do unto you!!!
not being a mutawah dear, its just plain facts.
i too have heard the locals in arab dress will not be allowed in bars serving drink, but obviously there are unwritten changes taking place.
i think if you regularly visit a joint, there is a probability that some flexibility will be exercised towards you, in this case probably someone was bold enough to let the guys drink, and since, nothing happened because of it, they have just let the trend go on.
now someone with pure religious sentiments must come to know of it in the higher authority area. if this is a serious rule, what may happen? the bar or restaurant closed for a period of time, what happens to local boys caught drinking, depending upon their social standing, a verbal reprimand that no one will come to know of, or a fine, again, that no one will come to know of.
non muslims, caught drinking and behvaing crazy, just get a fine, in extremem cases, maybe deportation.
happy heart
drive safe because someone is waiting for you at home
Dweller is out of date with the procedure as he has not had a booze permit for some years.
I think the topic has been covered in previous threads.
Incidentally, if any of you have queries on making cocktails ask Haris at the syndicate. He was Senior barman at the QGPC Falcon Club Open Arms Bar and can tell you how to make any cocktail that you want.
If you had read my original post properly, you will see that I was not criticisng anything or anybody. I was merely asking what the position was for Qataris on drinking.
They cannot enter any bar in national dress. Everyone knows this but it seems that in some places they can enter a restaurant in national dress and order alcohol without any need to hide it. I was merely asking what the legal/official posiiton was on this. I know the religious position.
Thanx again...awaiting dwellers response on this :)
I do believe you have to ask for an authorization letter from your Employer and they have to sign it, before they can process it and they will give you a booklet, for their records of how much you have purchased in a month. I think they have the same system as in Oman.....
Me and my hubby don't want to get a liquor license because it's just a temptation to drink more and it's full of carbohydrates and I'm a figure conscious type, at least going to the bar, you meet different type of people and have some friends to make you more sociable.....
Do unto others, what you want to do unto you!!!
heyyy thanx for the info...but what does one have to do to obtain a liquor license...as I am a non-Qatari what would be the guidelines for me?
Booze permits are available to Qataris so why shouldn't they drink outside too?
In the days when the limit permitted was QR400 a month, Senior Government officials were allowed QR600 a month for "entertaining purposes".
Liquor license is required if you're going to buy an alcohol directly from the alcohol shop, otherwise you can get a drink in any Hotels that has bar and others if you want to be a member of a European club, Rugby clubs, golf club and other clubs that has bar, and if you don't want to be a member then you have to pay 20 Qatari Riyals every visit in any clubs.....
Do unto others, what you want to do unto you!!!
You sounds like a "Mutawah"
Do unto others, what you want to do unto you!!!
heyy u summed it up pretty well :)...but what I wanted to know is that is drinking not allowed for non qataris as well ... what happens if they get caught drinking...I heard from a few people that I would be needing a liquor license if I have to buy liquor after going to Qatar...Is that really the case?
as per religion: drinking is prohibited
as per state: qataris and muslims should not drink.if caught he faces fine and pretty lashings to embroider his hide for quite some time.
as per individual: well if he wants he will drink, else not.its his wish and if the place allows him to drink, then why not. but if he gets caught, he gets his hide embroidered with pretty lashes.
happy heart
drive safe because someone is waiting for you at home
People should start appreciating what does the Qataris moderns attitude is nowadays, better that way. Don't complain if they act that way, Mixing with other nationality is a sign of their being sociable, If you were to live in Saudi Arabia they behave badly and very strict with every foreigners in their country. drinking alcohol is a crime to them, come on guys! at least here, they are civilized and very friendly why people can't just appreciate that?
Do unto others, what you want to do unto you!!!
Are you sure they were in Qatari National Dress and not from another Gulf country?
I am very surprised that the hotel served them - I am sure by now as this thread is here on the internet that the powers to be have sorted out this drinking problem.
They are also human beings
Please go back to sleep
I feel sad that there is wine consumption in Qatar.
You phrased it right.
qatari can drink as far not wearing national dress / attire
Next time you go there tag me along. don't mind having a free one at all. May be can get one of my friends who can speek arabic. In that way more free drinks to come. :)
A Nation, A culture with Dual Faces. Telling some thing else and behaving totally against.
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I Can Break the Law Because i Made the law....