sage & onion wrote:
This is actually one of my pet subjects, because I hate to see people just throwing everything away, its not that I am against a drink, I like a glass as much as anyone.
Everything in moderation.
Here are a couple of examples;
Guy goes to Ajman Hole in the Wall, purchases his stock for the Month and drives back to Dubai, gets into an accident, in Sharjah, nothing serious, however due to the bump a bottle broke in the boot. When the Police arrived, they smelt it and searched the car.
Result, the guy was jailed, and eventually deported, never to return.
Unfortunate but some effort could be made to reduce the risk, like jumping out of an aeroplane, make sure your chute is packed properly, and always pack your own chute.
If you're going to do this (and I'm in no way condonding it) reduce your risk by:
(1) Don't overdo it, a bottle, maybe 3 at the most.
(2) Pack them tightly, securely and obscurely. If you can bury them at the bottom of your luggage surrounded by underwear, or somewhere else in your car that is going to be safe, cosy and bump resistant.
(3) Take it easy through Sharjah, and don't necessarily take the main route.
(4) Avoid being followed and remove obvious evidence. i.e. dispose of the blue bags they give you which kind of transmit "I have alcohol!" and take it easy leaving Ajman.
(5) In the event of having a bingle - remain calm and relaxed and act like its no big deal.
(6) Don't do the drive specifically to go to the hole in the wall - if you look like someone who just spent a weekend in the Kempinski, it looks less suspicious, plus the Kempinski is a nice hotel.
(7) Be alert, but not alarmed. Drive carefully.
It of course would be easier to get a liquor licence.
Guy and Gal (Partners not married) go to Khorfakhan (a part of Sharjah) for a nice weekend, stay in a hotel, for some reason the Manager called the Police and reported that he thought they were not married. Police came along, questioned the couple who admitted that they shared an apartment in Dubai for the past 4 years, however they were not married.
Result, they were both jailed for 6 months and then deported never to return.
Now you tell me, is it worth it???????
I would never stay in Sharjah as an unmarried couple. Still, lots of stories are FOAF stuff.