A SENIOR municipal councillor has insisted on keeping his proposal – to ban alcohol in certain areas of Muharraq – on the agenda of Monday’s meeting of the Muharraq Municipal Council despite a public backlash on social media.
Council legislative, administrative and financial affairs committee chairman Bassem Al Majdami clarified that his recommendation did not aim to ban serving liquor in hotels, resorts or first-class restaurants in the governorate.
He added that his detractors had misinterpreted his proposal, by claiming that it would cost hundreds of Bahrainis their jobs at these outlets and businesses.
“The fears expressed by my critics on social media, and the non-stop calls I have been receiving are the result of wrong interpretations of the proposal,” he told the GDN.
“The proposal came to light because of one outlet that is currently serving alcohol in The Lagoon, Amwaj Islands in full view of families and children.
“From that I submitted that alcohol shouldn’t be served in shopping complexes and family leisure areas.
“This will include any new investment projects open to the public; we want the ban to be included as a condition in the agreements.
“The idea that my proposal includes Bahrain International Airport, the Bahrain Duty Free or any hotel, resort or first-class restaurant is misleading.
“The airport, the duty free and the Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain are in my constituency and all of those working there are mostly my people, so I wouldn’t be looking to get them laid off or face trouble.”
Mr Al Majdami said the proposal was checked for its legal ramifications before it was presented, to ensure it doesn’t constitute a violation of public freedom.
“I have no problem with people consuming alcohol in designated areas; my intention is to ban the sale and consumption of liquor in the open.
“Drinking alcohol in the public is against the law and we have received complaints accompanied by pictures showing children watching people having a drink in a particular outlet, with others shown walking with cans or bottles in their hands outside the designated area.”
In June 2016, former Muharraq municipal councillors voted to ban new businesses in the governorate from selling alcohol even if they had been granted “tourist-class” status.
However, this was eventually rejected by the government.
In 2006, the same council’s bid to impose a blanket ban on all alcohol sales in the governorate under an “alcohol-free zone” regulation failed after it was told that it couldn’t revoke existing licences.
The Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry said then that these businesses were operating under existing laws that regulate the tourism industry.
However, councillors managed then to impose the decision on the understanding that it did not say anything about not granting licences to new applications for alcohol sales.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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