Ramadan in Bahrain = NO BOOZE????
 

What's the deal...?

Last year the wonder-wizards in parliament decided (AFTER Ramadan had alREADY started) to kibosh sales of booze, PERIOD! What a WASTE for all of the bar owners, etc, who suddenly had to lay off their staff (not to mention the poor staff being turfed out on their butts with zero warning and now what to do with budget planning, etc?!). Will it be the same this year?

Yes, one can stock up and quaff at home, but deciding on making further eroding changes to peoples life-style based on which way the wind blows only ends up being yet another nail in the coffin, if you ask me.

Those that want not, or "should not", NEED not. It's that simple! And for those who like to have a beer or two while watching a game on the big-screen in a pub, etc, are stuck wondering "WTF?!". Creeping rule-changes serve only to drive people from coming here...

Inquiring minds want to know.

Not good...
 

Not good news... as far as I'm aware, when they canned the bars last year, as you say, AFTER it started, it was because they actually passed a new law (as they do :rolleyes: ) banning alcohol during Ramadan... I reckon it'll be the same this year :ugh: - am starting to stock up already!!!!!

Cheers,
JFF :ok:

wheh shisha!

good thing thay don't close down the seashell hotel because if they do that then really what to do what to do during ramadan in bahrain

Not too sure that will happen again this year

When is ramadan scheduled to start?

Around September 23rd.

...inSHAAAAaaaalah

Well, I've been here a few years, and all I can say is; stock up before Sep 22, and, after that , go with the flow, every year is different, and watch out for the the driving at sunset as the days go by. The only real difficulty is trying to find a decent cup of coffee in the morning to accompany the previous day's daily Mail!!!

Isnt there more infidels in Bahrain than muslims, time for an uprising and douse there flag in Whisky and burn it at the kings palace......

I also wonder about the wisdom of this ban, ExSimGuy, given that the bars is one of the major tourism attractions in Bahrain and while religion is important, money never stinks either. In most Western countries Sunday shopping is pretty much the norm, you can shop up until 5pm on Christmas Eve, and people break down the barracades on December 26th to get bargains after "abstaining" from shopping for one day.

It was interesting for me to listen to the musings of one devout muslim, a gentleman who opposed the closing of the bars and restaurants during the Holy month of Ramadan. He explained that fasting and abstinence was a personal choice of every Muslim. It required will-power, devotion, and sacrifice.

He further explained that while he chose to fast, nobody had the right to force him to fast nor did anybody have the right to deny him food if he decided not to fast. In fact, he felt that saying "no" when everything is available to him just makes the fasting more meaningful. It was his choice, and he did so to honor God.

I thought this to be of interesting insight.

Personally I'll drink to that ...... :} Come to think of it I'll drink to most anything

I just simply love how the local boys and their brethren from across the causeway are pilling in the pub to get the last few one's down before the dry season is upon them. Me, I think I'll spend my minimum rest times in Duty Free, best pub in town boys :ok:
Cheers
Capt Fluffies

As I said...it was a first last year, and methinks it was a last.....but no guarantees of course...

Vast, ye varmint...! At least a bad day boating n boozing beats a good day workin'.

Lots of options if they do slam the bars shut. Dumb move, in many opinions (even quite a number of Muslim brothers dislike that idea, as PJ pointed out and many of us have heard).

PJ's comment reminds me of the numbers of times going to bars, etc, with a number of friends, and some were Muslim. They simply ordered soft-drinks / fruit juices, etc, and were happy to join in the socializing - and everyone respected them for joining in the group, and not a soul thought negative towards them for it. Nobody forces ANYONE to drink in ANY society, and if you are devout enough to abstain, WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL of keeping bars, etc OPEN? Misguided so-called "parliamentarian" intent, methinks.

Another thing that makes me chuckle is how the "Fashion Channel"...during Ramadan, it blanked out, displaying a "The Fashion Channel will not be shown during the Holy Month of Ramadan" on the screen. HUH?? You mean the REST of the year it's not an issue to have "the devout" peeking at the odd nipple that shows on the catwalk fashion-displays?? That essentially makes them PART-TIME devout, doesn't that??

Absolutely NO offence is meant here, but those that want not, or "should not", NEED not...PERIOD!!

Let's hope IB is right here, but I'm not holding my breath that those who wield the power will take that on advisement... Methinks they will order everything to be slammed shut, just like last year.

...The slippery slope continues its downwards trend...As I said, this is yet another nail in the coffin.

Off to go stock up.

~R.D.

It's Official
 

Hotels and Bars have been told, they will not open for business during Ramadan...:eek: this is also extended to the bars in all private clubs such as Yacht Club, Rugby Club, British Club etc etc... :(

Cue mad dash to the liquor store!...

JFF :ok:

time to shrink the beer gut anyway...:ok:

No offence.

Just phoned the bar at the rugby club and was told that they had heard nothing as yet.

I know that the duty barman may not be the font of all knowledge but I hope that they don't do this.

It would be like banning shisha cafes in London during Christmas. About as alien to my muslim friends as this would be.

Live and let live.

Even the owned-by-you-know-who Ritz-Carlton had no information about yes/no alcohol during ramadamadingdong last night.

And why can't the people here work out when their Holy Month starts? They manage nicely in Tunesia, Morokko, Egypt etc where calendars show Ramadan
all along.
"We must SEE the moon". :bored: Well, do you have to SEE Paris to know it's there?
And what if there was a week-long dust storm? Mafi moon....

(This must also be the way how they make decissions at GF. - By watching the moon)

Hmmm..
 

... the plot thickens!! :hmm: ... Anyone else heard anything? - I got my info from the Manager at Elite hotel, and the part about the private clubs via a company quite prolific in the supply of alcohol on the island... still, same applies they are most probably not the font of all information...

JFF :ok:

Pathetic.
 

Another nail in Bahraini tourism's closing coffin. (But with oil prices the way they are, I guess the local (im)potentates don't really care.

Still and all, more time to devote to smoking, swearing, and sex.:)