I really think this is one of the worst decisions a country could take..
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Oman lifts Ramadan drinking ban
Thursday, 31 May 2007 08:59
The Oman government has decided to lift the drinking ban it imposes during Ramadan, but only for tourists staying at selected hotels and only during certain times.
The Radisson SAS, Grand Hyatt, Shangri-la Barr Al Jissa, The Chedi, Intercontinental Hotel, Crowne Plaza and Al Bustan Palace will be able to serve alcohol after sunset from 7pm until 2am in allocated restaurants.
Alison Cryer, director of the UK's Oman Tourist Office, said: "The lift of this ban has taken a while to be agreed as it is a sensitive subject and part of Oman's culture.
"However, this step shows that Oman is taking on board western travellers' preferences and recognises the importance of being adaptable and catering to them".
8 comments:
Maybe you should share with us why you think its a bad idea. Do you think it will distract from the purpose of the month?
My question is who is considered a tourist? Is it only applicable to westerners?
i've been to dubai in Ramadhan, n at some places they still served alcahol..
But with out music.. i'd rather have the music without alcahol..
It just seems wrong somehow.. its like the value of respect towards religion is getting lost.. Now not only someone is loosin this value, a whole country/a nation is loosing the value too
G
That’s weird, I thought Oman will always be the country that is protecting it’s values, religion and culture. I guess step by step all countries will be the same. Tourists, long buildings, night clubs and expensive cars… hah today they’ll allow drinking, God knows what’s going to come tomorrow…
I never had problems with ppl drinking in restaurants but Ramadan is not just a month, well we can say what ever but we can change nothing….
I think good values don't need fervent protection, you know. If you value your values, in other words, you won't go out drinking. Now, I am not a Muslim and it drives me crazy every time the restaurants are shut during the day and no alcohol is served for a month come Ramadan! Why should we stick to someone else's values? We don't enforce eating and drinking in our parts of the world on people who fast - then why do you think it's wrong that you stop enforcing not eating and drinking on us here??
:P
To be frank, expatriates didn’t come all the way to Oman for a drink. They came for the natural views. Why should we accommodate their needs by serving them what our God have forbidden? Why aren’t we getting the same treatment while we travel to western countries? We have our own culture going on but the west does not accommodate that. What we do is hold on till we get back home, right?
That’s only culture, let alone religion. We need to pray five times a day and back in the Sultanate, we have places of worship almost everywhere. Does the west make that easy? It’s quite hard to find a place to pray while you are away. I can't remember seeing a prayer room in a mall in London? Did you?
God have forbidden alcohol in steps, should we ask the officials why...
Meticulousness,
You got it all wrong, see :) The bars in Oman are supposedly serving alcohol to non muslims only, since muslims don't drink, right?
Then why close the bars during Ramadan?
I would understand a ban on alcohol in the country as such, in agreement with Islamic laws, but this is hilarious: open the bars with alcohol for non muslims, but close it during religious holidays?
:)
Not really, that wasn't my point of view regarding this issue. I made it clear there Why should we accommodate their needs by serving them what our God have forbidden? Why aren’t we getting the same treatment while we travel to western countries? We have our own culture going on but the west does not accommodate that. What we do is hold on till we get back home, right?
I'm not with closing bars during religious holidays. You either shut them for good or keep them there to serve 24/7. And by the way, serving alcohol is a sin itself, let alone drinking it.
Hey everyone..
It bothered me alot at first, but then all changes are happening to the worst somehow..
I think there is a huge conflict between freedom & culture. humans now care more about their personal freedom then anything else in this world.
I think everyone in this world would love to sat "All I care about is my comfort & satisfaction".
if thats all I care about, why am I concerned about this ban lift?!
G
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