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UAE Laws Regarding Alcohol Use

1) If you are a Muslim expatriate, drinking alcohol is strictly forbidden in any circumstance.2) If you are non-Muslim, you may only consume alcohol if you personally hold an alcohol licence. You should keep this licence with you at all times. The licence is granted by the police licencing authorities in the Emirate in which you live. The alcohol licence will allow you to purchase alcohol up to a percentage of your monthly salary.3) Even if you hold an alcohol licence, you should only drink alcohol in your own home or a licenced restaurant or bar. It is against the law to consume alcohol or have alcohol in your system if you are not in your own home or in a licenced venue. Whilst this law is usually only enforced in conjunction with another crime, expatriates should be still be careful, considerate and courteous whilst travelling from venue to venue on an evening out.4) Alcohol should only be purchased in the Emirate in which the expatriate holds an alcohol licence. It is therefore against the law for an expatriate residing in Dubai to purchase alcohol from liquor suppliers in Ras al Khaimah.5) There is zero tolerance laws for expatriates drink driving in the UAE. This means that you may have NO alcohol in your system whilst driving. Alcohol can take up to 48 hours to leave your system. Take this in to account when driving the day after a night out.The penalties for breach of any of the above licensing laws is a jail term and can be combined with deportation in some cases.

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