Oil, Oil Everywhere, But Not a Drop to Drink

I just found this old article from TIME Magazine that was written after alcohol was banned in Kuwait:

A month ago the oil-rich sheikdom of Kuwait banned all liquor within its borders, and since then many of its thirsty citizens have been drinking everything in sight from perfume and eau de cologne to rubbing alcohol and Sterno — with predictably disastrous results. By last week, an estimated 150 Kuwaiti had died from alcohol poisoning, several hundred more had been blinded, and Kuwait’s hospitals were filled to overflowing. Bathtub gin is flourishing, and bootlegging the real thing has become Kuwait’s fastest growing business. A fifth of Dewar’s White Label Scotch now commands a sheik’s ransom of $50 on the black market.

Prohibition came to Kuwait as deviously as an Arab horse trade. In theory only Christian residents of the predominantly Moslem nation could drink, using ration cards to obtain whisky through London’s Gray Mackenzie & Co. Ltd., which has had an import monopoly on Kuwait’s liquor flow for decades. In fact, Moslems imbibed increasingly, and drunken-driving fatalities mounted apace. The nation’s stricter religious leaders then teamed up with local merchants who resented Gray Mackenzie’s lucrative monopoly to introduce a prohibition bill in the Kuwaiti Assembly. With voting a matter of public record in the tiny Moslem land, the bill passed easily, despite its manifest unpopularity and whatever the legislators’ private lapses from the temperance of Mohammed’s grace might be.

Gray Mackenzie padlocked its doors, and the poisoning cases began to stagger in as sales of after-shave lotions and cologne soared tenfold. Several dozen British and American petroleum engineers served notice that they would not renew their employment contracts if Kuwait stayed dry. Several influential Kuwaitis have applied to remote countries for posts as honorary consuls, hoping thereby to qualify for diplomatic liquor privileges. Many of the thirsty began flocking to Basra in Iraq, 100 miles from Kuwait City. Their pilgrimage has also produced agitation for repeal of the law from their weekend widows left behind. They fear that the forced-draft drinking by the boys and the wiles of the women of Basra may prove a dangerously combustible mix.

TIME Magazine - Friday, Jan. 22, 1965

Mar 7, 2007

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45 Comments, add your own...

1. me | March 7th, 2007 at 12:22 am

I’m a strong believer that the banning of Alcohol, made this underground world, wether it’s Alcohol or something else. it’s shameful that we are in 2007 and we still demand basic freedom of drinking at least at ones own home. Now i see every one is wanting Alcohol but shy to talk it out. you could see people coming to restaurants with Alcohol and also in fridays newyear party i heard they served non-alcoholic sparkling apple juice. IT’S TIME PEOPLE!!
2. moayad | March 7th, 2007 at 12:50 am

I don’t want to debate on this.. but..

That’s democracy.. take it or leave it :p
3. Talal | March 7th, 2007 at 1:21 am

I understand the basic issue of freedom to drink etc, etc, but this whole obsession with alcohol is kind of unhealthy and, well, I’m sorry but it’s kind of pathetic, too. It’s not like your body will whither away and die if you don’t have that sip of Jack Daniels RIGHT NOW!
4. Marzouq | March 7th, 2007 at 1:31 am

I can understand both cases, but how come we have worse cases of drunk driving in Kuwait then they do in the Dubai.

There must be something wrong when there is so much underground alcohol in Kuwait. Let them regulate it and let them put some real rules on drunk driving. Most Drunk Driving cases aren’t persecuted and they are let go by the cops.

If it is regulated then they can control its distribution more since people will pay the regular prices rather then the huge sums they do now. Its not a matter of religion, its a matter of demand and supply, if there is a supply the demand will decrease and people won’t be as insane about it as they were before.

Current Drinking View in Kuwait:
Since I opened the bottle let me make the best of it and finish it.

That is why everyone gets drunk from one sitting, but look at a person who doesnt think that way then they enjoy their drink without any issue, and no need to get trashed.

That is my take on it.
5. jaja | March 7th, 2007 at 4:33 am

I never drank, and i’ve never been better..

i get lots of boners too
6. moocherx | March 7th, 2007 at 6:32 am

The only problem with banning anything is that it makes it more desireable. With alcohol though, we’re talking about a normal everyday thing for most people worldwide, and so it seems bizarre that 5 out of 180 (or whatever it is) countries in the world should ban it.

Meanwhile, Kuwaitis are dying en masse from diabetes and lung cancer (yet more fast food joints are opened, cigarettes are cheap and the few “no smoking” signs are completely ignored, and the health ministry does nothing to actively promote health).

But the bottom line is - anyone who WANTS alcohol here can GET alcohol here.
7. waleed | March 7th, 2007 at 6:34 am

I’d love to know the kind of shit that goes on in these ARAB COUNTRIES, from substance abuse to deviant sex practices… It’ll put the west to shame.
8. Holla | March 7th, 2007 at 8:16 am

The bottom line mooch is that kuwait is well fucked and is going backwards straight to hell thanks to it’s own idiotic people. GODspeed heh.
9. fadibou | March 7th, 2007 at 8:53 am

banning things should be banned, simple solution.
10. Financy | March 7th, 2007 at 10:11 am

Kuwait is a muslim country and we want to practice our religion ,

Selling , Buying , Drinking , Transporting Alcohol .. is BIG BIG BIG HARAM .. its actually one of the Kaba’er.

A Hadeeth By the Rasool ( PBOH ) states that ” god will curse anyone who drinks , buys , sells , transports alcohol ” .

the hell with democracy and freedom of speech and 2007 bullshit and globalization .. if it gets me cursed .

and any one who doesnt like The Hadeeth of the Rasool , ” get the fuck out of Kuwait “
11. xcarlos | March 7th, 2007 at 10:45 am

From my point of view its really hard to bring bozz back to kuwait coz the 50 member that we elected will not allowe it plus KSA well interfear like always ….. thats is too bad as if we are the only real moslim nastion on earth .. that is bullshit we need more freedom … keep the hight rates viva Dubai
12. Moriarty | March 7th, 2007 at 11:52 am

Financy,

In the words of Theodore S. Logan Esquire
(PB & J) “Dude, Chill out!”

Methinks you need a hug!

:)
13. a girl | March 7th, 2007 at 12:07 pm

I agree with Financy
14. Hellraiser | March 7th, 2007 at 12:12 pm

Beeing an islamic country, Kuwait have the right to decide whether or not to ban Alcohol. Immagine the growth rate of violence and accidents that will sweep the country. For those who want to drink go to Dubai and Bahrain, i see no reason why you should be bashing Kuwaiti legistlation, for those who wanna bitch for the sake of bitching, I beleive there are better alternative than staying in Kuwait, as the saying goes, you cant be a begger and a chooser.
15. me | March 7th, 2007 at 12:31 pm

Financy,
Correction! Kuwait is a civil country with a muslim majority, well i don’t care about your rasool with his 1400 years ahadeth, which was documented after 100 year of his death. Alcohol is available anyway, even your holy city of makkah has Alcohol and drugs, it’s a matter of regulation.
oh and you need to be educated here is a free lesson, “Freedom of belief is absolute” Article 35, Kuwait Constitution.
Know your infos. before spreading hate!
16. Hellraiser | March 7th, 2007 at 12:48 pm

Me you are threading on thin ice here by crossing over to a religious discussion, I dont think Mark blog was intended for this purpose. Correction Kuwait is a Moslem Country end of story, if you have an issue the airport is righjt up your alley.
17. Mark | March 7th, 2007 at 12:52 pm

Yes I would rather religion was not discussed here. The purpose of the article I posted wasn’t to push for alcohol legalization or anything of that sort. I just found it interesting to share, mostly the last part where it talks about how the wives were worried their husbands drinking in basra and the hot chicks there would lead their husbands to cheat on them.

I also found the part where it says a lot of people were blinded… when we were “experimenting” with perfume back in high school we always thought that was an urban legend.. guess its not.
18. me | March 7th, 2007 at 12:59 pm

Hellraiser,
I am a Kuwaiti citizen and i have the right to express my view, deal with it!
19. jaja | March 7th, 2007 at 1:00 pm

me why mention only a part of it? “Freedom of belief is absolute. The State projects the freedom of Practicing religion in accordance with established customs, provided that it does not conflict with public policy or morals.” Yea, it does conflict with the public policy and morals.
20. just_a_guy | March 7th, 2007 at 1:06 pm

Financy said: “and any one who doesnt like The Hadeeth of the Rasool , ” get the fuck out of Kuwait “”

hehehehheheheheheh I really like ur childish way of stating whats on ur mind!
if I translate it to arabic it would go:
من لا يعجبه كلام الرسول كس أمه خل يذلف من الكويت!!؟

بالله عليك الرسول كان ينهي أحاديثه بـ “واللي مو عاجبه كس أمه”
يالحبيب اذا تبي تدعي الناس فبالكلمة الطيبة اللي أمر فيها الرسول ، مو جيت ذا فك آوت أوف كويت
21. Hellraiser | March 7th, 2007 at 1:08 pm

Me, I could not care less where you are from, your religious point of view are unwelcomed, as this is not what we are disucssing here.
22. me | March 7th, 2007 at 1:16 pm

Ok this is my last post, since i want to respect Mark’s policy of no religion discussion. Customs and morals change everyday, when the constitution was written your mom or aunt couldn’t get educated! or they thought is 3aid for them to get educated!
I rest my case.
23. Hellraiser | March 7th, 2007 at 1:21 pm

Not much of a case dude.
24. fad14 | March 7th, 2007 at 1:46 pm

Banning it won’t stop it, it just makes it a better business and more expensive: Lesson from Netherlands.
Car accidents still do happen, and Kuwait is among the highest in the world in percentage of population.
Drinking is not allowed by religion and the same goes for lying, cheating but I don’t seen a ban on that.
Islam teaches us to respect others, so you have the Dubai example where only non Muslims can buy alcohol and get a permit to do it legally and to enjoy it.
Kuwaiti’s and other Muslim citizens go to Europe the US, and to other Arab countries and have no problem to roam around in areas where drinking is allowed.

So back to FINANCY: NO ONE IS ASKING Kuwaitis to drink, sell or transport alcohol, but for other people who still enjoy this 4000 year old beverage to have the right to buy it and drink it rather than pay some of the rich MAFIAs double the price and I think you know by now that most of those RICH mafias are Kuwaiti.
So making more money out of alcohol is not haram ??? or do you think its not bad as long as its not legal ??

ONE LAST note: I lived in Kuwait for 3 years and my only source of ALCOHOL was Kuwaiti people. Most of the other nationalities could not sell it or get easy access to it.
25. fad14 | March 7th, 2007 at 1:48 pm

BTW Cheers to everyone, I just had a nice cold beer in my office.
26. Rehan | March 7th, 2007 at 2:08 pm

Legalizing alcohol problem will only cause more and more problems .Firstly, a lot of locals whether or not you agree to it are not good enough to drink responsibly. The cops only enforce laws on non-kuwaitis and the locals are free from this provision in most of the cases. Here in states ,even if u take a liquor bottle out of a store and a cop sees u ,he can get the crap out of you. Still Americans have to deal with the alcohol abuse day in and out because you definitely don’t act sober when u are drunk. I don’t know if you don’t get alcohol will cause every body’s body to stop functioning. Its all a matter of habit .Smoking ,drugs ,alcohol are all sinful ways of pleasing urself but in the end u are far more depressed than when u started it.
27. Financy | March 7th, 2007 at 2:16 pm

Me

go open the Kuwaiti constitution ,

The 2nd Satement or Law or whatever its called states :

” The religion of the country is Islam , and the Islamic Sharia’a is a MAIN source to legislate laws ”

don’t act so smart 7abeeby , ekbar
28. Happy Wolf | March 7th, 2007 at 2:18 pm

Oh it’s hot in here ! If whiskey is not available just go to any bakala and ask for Jackson ![ mark i'll be glad if you posted a Jackson photo here ] It costs only 1.5KD and one can get a hell of a kick from it…
Then there is ‘desi’[ local brew] which just cost KD5 these days for 1.5 leter , some places like Abbasiya its even cheaper …
Then there is Undiluted spirit smuggled from hospitals …
If you know any hick from the base you can get red lable for KD25 [ then sell it for KD50 during Christmas…

Personally they should licence liquor…Or may be turn one of those vacant islands into a liquor zone… At least Kuwaiti’s will not fly to Dubai every weekend ….
29. BEER BOY | March 7th, 2007 at 3:31 pm

I LOVE TO DRINK, BUT NOT IN KUWAIT !!!
DUBAI MAYBEE, lol
IM GRATEFULL THERE IS NOW DRINKING IN Q8
I DONT WANT TO SEE Q80S DRUNK, lool
30. Rehan | March 7th, 2007 at 3:52 pm

Where is marzouq when u need him to demonstrate his liberal values. I am sure he would have a go at financy for his views.The problem is a lot of us are not concerned with the fact what will happen to us in our graves than on surface of earth.
31. moocherx | March 7th, 2007 at 4:32 pm

maybe he’s sleeping off a hangover ;-)
32. equalizer | March 7th, 2007 at 5:17 pm

I think its a good law to ban alcohol. This country can’t even control people on the road, how will they control drunk idiots coming out from bars? On the other hand I beleive there should be designated areas for such thing like Failaka which is controlled and regulated and seperated by sea. It provides an outlet to those who want it without an outright legalization across the country.
33. hassassin | March 7th, 2007 at 6:15 pm

i would hope that the energy so many people put into banal and futile online (and offline) discussions would be better channeled in making positive differences in your societies. please observe composure and seek truth in your actions.
34. Holla | March 7th, 2007 at 6:45 pm

Will the people that keep repeating the same old bullshit like sheep, that Kuwait is not ready for alcohol STFU. READ THE FUCKING ARTICLE, ALCOHOL USED TO BE LEGAL IN KUWAIT AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. SERIOUS PROBLEMS ONLY STARTED AFTER IT WAS BANNED.

goddamn, most ppl in this country are so fucking stupid they prob won’t even be able to read the label on their alcohol bottle if it was legalised.
35. istiminkiliz | March 7th, 2007 at 7:25 pm

I actually respect Kuwait for being one of the few countries that still ban alcohol; its becoming such a generic argument that banning alcohol and drugs increase accidents and problems. My dear colleagues, it is not the shar’ia or the laws that mess things up; on the contrary, its just the lack of laws and the preferential treatment between people that leads to the uncivilized acts we see today. We need more respect.
36. Financy | March 8th, 2007 at 9:23 am

99.99% of the kuwaitis are muslims ( weither sunnis or shi3is )

The 2nd law in the consitution says that kuwait is a muslim country.

The Parliment (which represent the people ) legislated a law to ban alcohol.

and Islam says its a BIG BIG Haram.

for those of you who calls for democracy and freedom .. Isnt that democracy ? the majority has spoken and banned alcohol . and Even the minority Kuwaitis who drink , wouldnt want alcohol to be sold IN kuwait . they would rather drink outside kuwait .

and for the expats living here to demand alcohol , i say its an internal affair , and this is our country and we ban whatever we want
37. Mark | March 8th, 2007 at 9:34 am

Financy you are being contradictory in your argument. When you say “this is our country and we ban whatever we want” thats not a democracy any more.
38. Happy Wolf | March 8th, 2007 at 10:23 am

I second that
39. jane | March 8th, 2007 at 11:15 am

this discussions has gone way too long then it should , nice find though mark
40. me | March 8th, 2007 at 11:24 am

Well said Mark
41. rehan | March 8th, 2007 at 2:45 pm

Don’t know why some of us can’t get along with out alcohol .common on its not like u will not be able to drink water and dehydrate or not able to survive without alcohol.
42. Holla | March 9th, 2007 at 2:45 am

for all you fucking braindead cunts that argue against alcohol in kuwait bc it’s a muslim country, how the hell do explain that ALCOHOL WAS LEGAL IN KUWAIT UNTIL 1964????

what kuwait used to be jewish then it turned muslim?

seriously GROW A FUCKING BRAIN and stop repeating that same shit your brother told u while fucking you in the arse kuwaiti incest style.
43. sfsa78 | March 9th, 2007 at 6:38 am

I AGREE WITH FINANCY… WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF OUR MUSLIM DEMOCRACY.. WE SHULD TURN INTO AN TALIBAN STATE… WE SHOULD GO AS FAR AS BAN ALL WOMEN EDUCATION AND FREEDOM… FINANCY,,, GET THE F OUTTA OF HERE WITH THAT BS!!
YOU SHOULD GO LIVE IN SAUDI ARABIA… BUT YOU WOULDNT WONT TO, WOULD YOU?!?!?!??
IF A GOVERNMENT WAS BASED ON A RELIGION, IT WOULDN’T BE A REAL DEMOCRACY, BECAUSE IT WOULD INFORCE ITS BELIEFS ONTO OTHERS.
I’M AS KUWAITI AS MUCH AS ONE CAN GET… I’M FOR FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BELEIFS, AND FREEDOM TO EXPRESS ONE SELF. IF YOU DONT WONT ALCOHOL… THEN QUITE SIMPLY,.. DONT DRINK.
I ENJOY MY VODKA DRINK… WHICH IS FREELY AVAILABLE IN KUWAIT THRU DEALERS,,, EXCEPT ITS VERY EXPENSIVE SINCE ITS ILLEGAL.
WHATS SO BAD ABOUT HAVING A DRINK TO RELAX AFTER A HARD DAYS WORK????
THIS COUNTRY IS GETTING SOO BACCKWARDS AND REALLY UP ITS OWN ASS WITH FANATICAL RELIGION.. ONE DAY WITH OUT KNOWING, WE WILL TURN INTO AN IRAN, OR AFGANISTAN BECAUSE OF THIS ISLAMIC HESTERIA THAT HAS GRIPPED OUR PART OF THE WORLD.
WE WERE NEVER LIKE THIS, BEFORE PEOPLES RELIGION WERE BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND THEIR GOD… BUT NOW IT;S LIKE A BLOODY WITCH HUNT.
WHY ARE PEOPLE HERE AFFRAID OF SPEAKING UP.
EVER SINCE THIS RELIGIOUS FEVER HAS APPEARED, THINGS HAVE BEEN GETTING WORSE FOR THE COUNTRY, IT ALL HIPOCRACY!
IT ALL STARTED WITH THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION IN IRAN.. BEFORE IT WAS UNHEARD OF WHEN YOU SAW A WOMAN WEARING A HIJAB, NOW ITS LIKE A BLOODY WITCH HUNT… IF YOU DONT WEAR IT THERES SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOU.. ITS LIKE A PRESURE.
LETS FACE IT PEOPLE,,, BECAUSE OF ALL THIS SHIT, ITS NOT SAFE FOR OUR WOMEN IN THE STREETS.. I FEEL OUR WOMEN ARE MORE SAFER IN EUROPE THAN HERE. BEFORE GUYS WOULD NOT LOOK TWICE AT WOMEN.. NOW THEY CHASE THEM LIKE ANIMALS..ITS RIDICULAS.
You say that kuwait’s constitutional religion is islam, whats next… if im not muslim i lose my citizenship??? wtf is going on??
44. PAPA_BRUTUS | April 1st, 2007 at 8:34 am

there was an article in todays kuwait times bout alcohol being legal in kuwait….but the punch line was tht it was an april fools day prank……cudnt belive my eyes in the morn but then all hopes faded whn i saw the last line……..i m n expat n huv been here 4 bout 3 yrs now….i do drink but i huv not drank in kuwait not even wine….its kinda principle issue for me here….but th has not stopped me frm buyin my bar stool n wine glasses…..atleast they look gud in my aprtment….but is really sad tht though there is a law tht bans alcohhol most of the citizens houses have a basement dedicated to a bar setup tht at time migh put some of the best bars in vegas to shame!!!! does this really make sense?????
45. Thirsty | November 19th, 2007 at 1:33 pm

I think they should legalize alcohol in Kuwait. in Failaka for instance. the issue isn’t religion, its the big MOBs that are making 500% the regular price of a bottle of licker. so ligalizing it and seting rules won’t hurt but we need to ban all Saudis from entering our country. cuz they will mess it up.
plus i am sick of going out of kuwait to drink:S thats just sad and criminal to go under the name of religion. more than 80% of kuwaiti adults drink, but they deny it, cuz they are muslims :)

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