Licence required to consume alcohol on Emirates?

[Foreigner]

Alcohol License Required To Have Drinks On Emirates Flights? | LoyaltyLobby

Alarming? Yes but lack of Licence is not enforced except for exceptional cases. Don't run foul with laws of Gulf countries.

 

[mannej]

Alcohol License Required To Have Drinks On Emirates Flights? | LoyaltyLobby

Alarming? Yes but lack of Licence is not enforced except for exceptional cases. Don't run foul with laws of Gulf countries.

Alarming - no. Handle your drink appropriately and it isn't an issue. For how many people fly EK, two cases seems like an extraordinary small number of cases, but nevertheless it comes down to those who cannot handle their drink appropriately - end of...

 

[Denali]

I think the fact that one tried to sexually assault a flight attendant and another insulted Islam is what got these guys in trouble. The alcohol charges were add ons and a reminder to all, do not act like bogans in foreign countries.

 

[whatmeworry]

So some Middle Eastern countries consider their planes as sovereign soil?

 

[TomVexille]

I think the fact that one tried to sexually assault a flight attendant and another insulted Islam is what got these guys in trouble. The alcohol charges were add ons and a reminder to all, do not act like bogans in foreign countries.

Exactly. Do something stupid and they will find every possible charge to bring against you.

 

[harvyk]

So some Middle Eastern countries consider their planes as sovereign soil?

As soon as you step foot on an aircraft, you are now bound by the laws of the country that aircraft is registered in. For example, step foot on a QF or VA aircraft OS and you're bound automatically by Australian laws.

As for needing a license to drink, as others have said this would only ever be enforced if you are already acting like a ....!
There is no way they would start enforcing it on planes or at airports since that would destroy their desire to be a hub faster than you can blink.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As soon as you step foot on an aircraft, you are now bound by the laws of the country that aircraft is registered in. For example, step foot on a QF or VA aircraft OS and you're bound automatically by Australian laws.

.

it is a complex issue involving not only registration, but also national laws of the country you might be flying from/to. But i believe your statement is correct once the aircraft is 'in flight', not the moment you board.

you would not be bound by sharia law for example the minute you stepped foot on a royal brunei aircraft in Melbourne. And Royal Brunei would have no way of enforcing their laws while on the ground.

 

[harvyk]

it is a complex issue involving not only registration, but also national laws of the country you might be flying from/to. But i believe your statement is correct once the aircraft is 'in flight', not the moment you board.

you would not be bound by sharia law for example the minute you stepped foot on a royal brunei aircraft in Melbourne. And Royal Brunei would have no way of enforcing their laws while on the ground.

Yeah it's one of those weird ones, technically I believe you would be bound not only by the laws of the place of registration, but also the laws of any state which you are in actually in. AFAIK where there is conflict the laws of the state you are in take precedence. I believe that includes when you overfly a place. So therefore, whilst sitting at MEL airport, whilst on board a royal brunei aircraft, shiara law would apply in parts which did not conflict with Victorian / Australian law. An example of this might include a ban on the serving of alcohol.

I remember a couple of years ago, one of the US carriers lost their rights to serve alcohol whilst in a certain state (I believe it was Arizona but don't quote me on that). This meant that if their planes overflew that state, even with no intention of taking off / landing there they where not allowed to serve alcohol whilst actually over the state.

Edit: Yes I realize that there may be examples where planes fly over dry countries but are still allowed to serve alcohol whilst in that countries airspace.

 

[serfty]

Interesting post on FT by a well respected member. It does not contradict anything herein and as in all such things UAE, if you aren't silly it should not be an issue; but it is interesting that it indicates consumption of alcohol is technically illegal in Dubai:

Originally Posted by B747-437B
Drinking alcohol in the UAE is illegal, period. However, non-Muslim residents (of some Emirates) may acquire an alcohol permit that permits them to purchase and transport alcohol for personal use (NOTE : the license does not specifically contradict the higher law against CONSUMPTION of alcohol, but dodges the issue by specifying purchase and transport only!).

It however remains illegal to consume alcohol in public (and technically, in private too), although this is obviously not enforced in isolation. The only people who get charged with alcohol offenses are those who draw attention to themselves for something else.

Non-residents cannot obtain alcohol permits, even though the law requires them to have one in order to purchase alcohol. Like most things in the UAE, it isn't a problem until it is a problem.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah issue permits for purchase and transport of alcohol, even though Sharjah does not issue permits to vendors for sale of alcohol within Sharjah (you can however buy alcohol at Sharjah Airport Duty Free when departing). Ajman, Umm al Quwain, Ras al Khaimah and Fujairah do not issue alcohol permits nor do they require them to purchase alcohol. However, consumption of the alcohol you purchase is still technically illegal due to the Federal law against consumption of alcohol.

 

[dajop]

Perhaps another similar example that is not related to Arab states is the serving of alcohol to those aged 18- 21 on US based airlines. From what I read -simplistically it is not allowed, but not always enforced by airlines.

 

[browski]

In the old days in Dubai, you could drink-and-drive and there was no random breath/blood testing.
However, the full force of the law (re: jail, deportation etc) was thrown at you if you were actually in an accident (and found to have been drinking); seems like a similar policy here and I am all for it.

 

[Foreigner]

If I can be put it succinctly, enjoy your grog responsibly.

 

[markis10]

Under the Chicago convention the laws of the land your in and the aircraft nationality your in apply equally, in the air on international airspace it's the country of nationality.

Being in a middle eastern airlines aircraft just means they have more laws re alcohol to throw at you when you stuff up or do a bogan, not a bad thing in my books.

 

[drron]

But the law is used when a person has not been an idiot or done anything wrong.for example-

Dubai (CNN) -- Norwegian interior designer Marte Deborah Dalelv has spoken out after being handed a 16-month prison sentence in Dubai -- after she went to police to report she had been raped by a colleague.
The 24-year-old was convicted and sentenced on charges of having unlawful sex, making a false statement and illegal consumption of alcohol.
Her story is dominating the headlines in Norway, and has raised serious questions over the way women who allege sexual assault are treated in the United Arab Emirates.

Norwegian sentenced to prison after she files rape claim in Dubai - CNN.com

This is not an isolated case of the law being used against a victim of rape.
One of the reasons I will not transit the UAE.

 

[browski]

But the law is used when a person has not been an idiot or done anything wrong.for example-

Norwegian sentenced to prison after she files rape claim in Dubai - CNN.com

This is not an isolated case of the law being used against a victim of rape.
One of the reasons I will not transit the UAE.

........with posts like that, you'll soon be a Moderator.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Under the Chicago convention the laws of the land your in and the aircraft nationality your in apply equally, in the air on international airspace it's the country of nationality.

Being in a middle eastern airlines aircraft just means they have more laws re alcohol to throw at you when you stuff up or do a bogan, not a bad thing in my books.

you would also need to consider the Tokyo Convention.

 

[markis10]

you would also need to consider the Tokyo Convention.

Amongst others, who would want to be a lawyer?

 

[UP4014]

Years ago (27 plus I think) you needed a 'drinking' stamp in your passport to be able to drink in Pakistan. Have not been there recently and have no desire to, many laws in this part of the world are all the things the rest of us are not and would not tolerate. I will not use a airline from the Middle East, backward is a polite word which comes to mind.

Matt

 

[browski]

Years ago (27 plus I think) you needed a 'drinking' stamp in your passport to be able to drink in Pakistan. Have not been there recently and have no desire to, many laws in this part of the world are all the things the rest of us are not and would not tolerate. I will not use a airline from the Middle East, backward is a polite word which comes to mind.

Matt

We are on the same wavelength because Ignorance is the word that your post conjures.

 

[JohnK]

Disturbing to say the least.

I keep thinking that I am missing out but then stories like these bring me back to reality.

No thanks....