More than 40 percent of people think alcohol should be banned completely in Dubai, the latest Arabian Business poll has found.
Results of the online survey, which come after officials issued a circular to hotels stating that the use of alcohol in cooking was “strictly prohibited”, reveal opinion is divided about the emirate’s alcohol rules.
Some 54.8 percent of people said they disagreed with an alcohol in food ban, while 45.2 percent said they were in support of changes.
At the moment dishes that contain alcohol can be sold in the city’s restaurants as long as it is clearly marked on the menu and the drink is stored, and the food prepared, separately.
Officials have since confirmed that an
alcohol in food ban
would not be enforced and that
confusion had arisen after chefs misunderstood the circular
.
“It’s a misunderstanding, it’s not a ban. Alcohol should be segregated and it should be clear on the menu the food that has been prepared with alcohol. This was the confusion,” Khalid Mohammed Sharif al Awadhi, the director of the food control department, said on Tuesday.
According to the poll 40.7 percent of people said they thought alcohol should be completely banned in Dubai because it is a Muslim country.
A further 4.5 percent supported an alcohol in food ban saying there were plenty of dishes that can be cooked without it.
However, 23.9 percent of people said dishes like coq au vin and tiramisu should still be available, with rules remaining as they are.
Some 30.9 percent disagreed with a ban, but suggested dishes prepared with alcohol should be listed on a separate menu.
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