Funky I can see your point but I love a glass of wine with my meal, and maybe a shot of something a little stronger with my movie. I would hope that people would be able to have those things without breaking the law, and leaving themselves open to arrest on arrival in the UAE. Whether the authorities would only arrest you if you have been behaving badly as well is beside the point.
The point is as per the precedent set by this case, if I drink on an Etihad flight without a liquor permit I am breaking the law and could be locked up in prison on arrival in Abu Dhabi. That is enough to scare off most people from the West from flying Etihad again.
Just ignore me literally please!!!
Standalone, your wish is my command, consider yourself ignored.