[Happy Dude]

"In Dubai it is permit to purchase. You cannot buy without it. Therefore if you are living there and want a drink at home, you need one."

Yes, but that has nothing to do with the story.

Unless, if you live in the UAE, you're not allowed to drink the airline-offered alcohol on an inbound international flight unless you have a permit to purchase alcohol in the UAE?

You can see how I'm confused by this "permit" that the lawyer warns us to get before flying Etihad and having cross words with the staff.

A more salicious account appeared in the Age online today:

Australians deported from UAE - Travel - theage.com.au

Interesting to note that the two convicted of sexual harassment and assault charges used Etihad to get out of UAE (to BKK). What's a chap got to do to get barred from an airline?

[simongr]

Originally Posted by Happy Dude

"In Dubai it is permit to purchase. You cannot buy without it. Therefore if you are living there and want a drink at home, you need one."

Yes, but that has nothing to do with the story.

Unless, if you live in the UAE, you're not allowed to drink the airline-offered alcohol on an inbound international flight unless you have a permit to purchase alcohol in the UAE?

Just for clarity if you are not a resident of UAE you dont need a permit to drink onboard alcomohol?

How on earth can an airline police that? Stickers on the seat backs? Branding the PAX?

EDIT

Just read the Age article - so I guess their story is that because it was so hot - they had to take their clothes off.... Interesting that the drugs test results werent mentioned on the news...

[bravoecho1]

Just to clarify, you don't have to get a permit to drink on their flights (I certainly wasn't asked on any of my flights). It is no different than flying on Emirates.

The other permits everyone is referring to is for expatriate residents to buy alcohol from bottle shops (inside they are no different to Oz bottleshops but you would never know what it is from the outside). It is based on a monthly limit but there are ways and means around exceeding your limit. Half the time they don't even stamp your purchases.

Anyone can walk into a bar and buy alcohol its only if you wanted to drink at home that you need a license.

There are a number of different rules over there like the one where a male and female can't live together if they're not married. I know of a number of people who have come close to being caught.

[browski]

Originally Posted by Happy Dude

Yes I've heard about these "licences" pertaining to expats in places like Saudi Arabia. ....

Just want to correct this. There are no liquor licences nor liquor for sale legally) anywhere in Saudi or Kuwait.

[Happy Dude]

Originally Posted by bravoecho1

Just to clarify, you don't have to get a permit to drink on their flights (I certainly wasn't asked on any of my flights). It is no different than flying on Emirates.

The other permits everyone is referring to is for expatriate residents to buy alcohol from bottle shops (inside they are no different to Oz bottleshops but you would never know what it is from the outside). It is based on a monthly limit but there are ways and means around exceeding your limit. Half the time they don't even stamp your purchases.

Anyone can walk into a bar and buy alcohol its only if you wanted to drink at home that you need a license.

There are a number of different rules over there like the one where a male and female can't live together if they're not married. I know of a number of people who have come close to being caught.

All well and good, but what is the lawyer banging on about? These permits have nothing to do with drinking on aircraft.

[Happy Dude]

Originally Posted by browski

Just want to correct this. There are no liquor licences nor liquor for sale legally) anywhere in Saudi or Kuwait.

Yes, but I was hoping that the quotation marks would indicate that I was speaking colloquially.

Alcohol is easy enough to procure if you pay for the privilege through the right channels.

[d15.in.oz]

Originally Posted by Happy Dude

Alcohol is easy enough to procure if you pay for the privilege through the right channels.

OMG...that sounds so like America, well ancient America...how many centuries ago was prohibition?!?!

Can’t you tell, I am a fan of ORD, now that’s a North American city worth visiting!

[clifford]

Originally Posted by browski

Just want to correct this. There are no liquor licences nor liquor for sale legally) anywhere in Saudi or Kuwait.

Yes Browski, I second that. If you are caught with any kind of liquor whatsoever in Saudi, you will be subject to severe physical punishment.

How do I know that? I was a DFAT officer there.

Those posters who haven't been to Saudi wouldn't understand what I am talking about. Trust me.

[tuapekastar]

I recall a conversation with a work colleague quite a few years ago, who had worked in Saudi Arabia. IIRC he indicated they were able to drink in their "foreigners' compounds" (legally or illegally, and if illegally, how they obtained it I don't know) but at one point they were transporting a large amount of booze in a car boot from one location to another (outside the compound), and were absolutely s****ing themselves because a car containing religious police was following them. Fortunately for them they did not get pulled over.

I have no personal experience of Saudi, just relating a story told to me as genuine (be it factual or a bit of bulldust).

[drron]

The alcohol and passengers behaviour is not the whole story here.Has anyone seen the Etihad spokesman deny the claims that their were major problems on the flight such as airconditioning not working,F passengers being unable to use their computers,warm champagne,staff not responding to requests etc.All I have seen was the response that no matter what happened the passengers behaviour was not acceptable.
As far as I am concerned if all these problems did occur in F then that is reason enough to avoid Etihad.