Bahrain MPs call for ban on Duty Free alcohol sales

ALCOHOL ROW: Bahraini MPs have called for an alcohol ban on Gulf Air flights and at the Gulf state's international airport.

MPs in Bahrain have voted to ban all sales of alcohol including Duty Free purchases at Bahrain International Airport.

MPs urged the government to start acting as a Muslim country, by abiding by Islamic values and principles, stipulated in the Constitution and comes two weeks calls for a ban on alcohol on Gulf Air flights, Gulf Daily News reported on Wednesday.

"We have received a lot of complaints, especially from women, who are being forced to serve drunken men at bars and lounges," Parliament foreign affairs, defence and national security committee vice-chairman Abdulhussain Al Metgawie said.

"Others are complaining that they are being forced to sell alcohol at the Duty Free, despite the management knowing they are Muslims," he added.

Duty Free officials said they did not want to comment on the proposal.

"The final decision on this has to be taken by the government," managing director Abdulla Buhindi told the paper.

MPs said earlier that the government had no excuse for not banning alcohol on Gulf Air flights, since the airline is now fully owned by Bahrain.

Both proposals have been referred to the Cabinet to study.

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READERS' COMMENTS

Alcohol Ban on Flights
Posted by Ken Allday on Saturday 7 February 2009 at 18:28 UAE time


Ok stop selling or giving Alcohol, but please stop flying to Countries who allow Alcohol and allow people to make their own decisions - I for one am not a Muslim but neither am I a drunk so please let me know if this is your intention and I will happily spend my money elsewhere. An excellent idea for a worldwide business strategy !! HA HA HA

You have a choice...
Posted by Doug, Dubai on Thursday 5 February 2009 at 08:44 UAE time


All I can say is that if you don't want to serve drunken men or serve alcohol, maybe you shouldn't have applied for a job working in a bar or in a Duty Free store.

Alcohal availability in Bahrain
Posted by Irish man in Bahrain, Manama, Bahrain on Wednesday 4 February 2009 at 15:09 UAE time


From a social perspective, people are entitled to make they own decision about whether or not they buy and consume alcohol irregardless of whether they are Muslim or not. It is not progressive to introduce a "nanny" culture and restrict peoples rights and freedoms. From an econmic perspective, adding another restriction will reduce the attractiveness of Bahrain and the perception people have of Bahrain as a favourable destination. Banning alohol purchase and/or consumption at Bahrain International airport and on Gulf Air flights is only paying lip service to the Muslim faith protectors. If they were sincere about it, they would ban alcohol from pubs, clubs, strip clubs etc. Of course this will not happen because alot of people living in Bahrain lead 2 different lives and dont want to chop off the hand that feeds them at the weekend!

Problem
Posted by angelo, Dubai, UAE on Wednesday 4 February 2009 at 14:15 UAE time


the main problem is that by banning the sale - you will push it "underground" - People should not be "forced" to sell alcoholic beverages - how accurate the statement is though I don't know - In duty free shops all you have to do is get the money - you don't have to handle the product. As regards persons who are inebriate - then they should not be served - full stop. I don't have any particular liking for the stuff but if it is taken by those who do in a responsible way - I don't see a problem. those who do wish to imbibe should also respect the local traditions and laws.
At one time in Finland you had to have a licence to visit bars - if you abused the privileged - you lost the licence for a period - this was also accompanied with a fine.

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