PEOPLE caught drinking alcohol in public, in full view of families and children, could face fines.
A proposal to ban consumption of spirits in public has been presented by Muharraq Municipal Council financial, administrative and legislative committee Bassem Al Majdami.
However, he pointed out that the ban would not include areas designation for alcohol consumption such as lounges at the airport, indoor facilities at licensed hotels, restaurants and bars.
Consumption at hotel poolsides could be allowed, he suggested, if warning notices were erected informing guests that: a) alcohol would only be sold to people aged 18 and above, b) children are the responsibility of their parents, and c) partitions would be installed if necessary.
“Drinking in designated areas does not mean walking around the airport with a face mask down and a beer can in hand, or sitting outdoors at a licensed outlet and consuming alcohol in full view of residents, passers-by or children,” said Mr Al Majdami.
“There are lounges at the airport and the alcohol licence for restaurants, bars and hotels means ‘inside’ and not in public view.
“Consumption of alcohol in public is a serious offence under Bahrain’s laws and should be punished with fines, with Parliament determining the amount.”
In 2020, the council voted in favour of a proposed ban on serving liquor in shopping complexes and family leisure areas in the Muharraq Governorate.
The proposal was referred by Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf to Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Alzayani as the issue fell under the latter’s purview, but no clear reply was received.
Mr Al Majdami faced public backlash when he presented that proposal at the time. However, he claimed the move was misinterpreted by some people as calling for a blanket ban on all alcohol vendors in Muharraq.
“That proposal, which I submitted two years ago, does not seek a blanket ban on alcohol, only in places that are family-oriented or where children can see people drinking,” said Mr Al Majdami.
“Otherwise, business could have still continued as normal,” he added.
“The new proposal is different and it aims to penalise offenders for not respecting public alcohol consumption rules in designated areas.
“Hopefully, the new proposal gains pace as we impose law and order.”
In June 2016, municipal councillors voted to ban new businesses in Muharraq 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 existing licences could not be revoked.
The Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry said at the time that these businesses were operating under existing laws that regulate the tourism industry in the country.
However, councillors managed 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
&uuid=(email))