Middle East - The booze scenario in Kuwait

Have nil experience with travel thru the gulf region & couldn't find any clear information on the airport site as well. Was wondering what the liquor scenario is in Kuwait city on arrival

- Is Liquor retailed at the duty free outlet at the airport on arrival?
- Is a foreign passport holder allowed to bring in liquor into the country and If yes, what are the permissible quantities?

Sadly, alcohol is absolutely illegal in Kuwait and you shouldn't attempt to import any.

There is some "underground" re-brewing of non-alcoholic beer and grape juice (yuk!), but it's unlikely you'll see this unless you are with friends or colleagues living there.

Any chance of being invited to an embassy party ? ;)

Sorry, but at least it's a step above the privations of Saudi !

Sadly, alcohol is absolutely illegal in Kuwait and you shouldn't attempt to import any.

There is some "underground" re-brewing of non-alcoholic beer and grape juice (yuk!), but it's unlikely you'll see this unless you are with friends or colleagues living there.

Any chance of being invited to an embassy party ? ;)

Sorry, but at least it's a step above the privations of Saudi !

So, there wouldn't be anything even in the mini-bar in one's hotel room...??
And, what happens to stuff you pick from the duty free from the country of origin of your journey..??
Slim chance of being invited to an embassy party..:(

So, there wouldn't be anything even in the mini-bar in one's hotel room...??
And, what happens to stuff you pick from the duty free from the country of origin of your journey..??
Slim chance of being invited to an embassy party..:(

Mini-bar ? Alcohol-free beer and grape juice probably :D

Anecdotally, you may get away with smuggling in a couple of miniatures from the flight, but it would be embarrassing and time-consuming if they were found by customs. You're unlikely to be deported but I don't recommend it.

On a positive note, you can smoke wherever you like !

How long are you staying in KWI for ? May be worth scheduling in a weekend R&R trip to Bahrain or Dubai ?

Mini-bar ? Alcohol-free beer and grape juice probably :D

Anecdotally, you may get away with smuggling in a couple of miniatures from the flight, but it would be embarrassing and time-consuming if they were found by customs. You're unlikely to be deported but I don't recommend it.

On a positive note, you can smoke wherever you like !

How long are you staying in KWI for ? May be worth scheduling in a weekend R&R trip to Bahrain or Dubai ?

It's only a week's worth of a trip..so should be manageable..!! ( will try at least)

Mini-bar ? Alcohol-free beer and grape juice probably :D

Peach Barbcian is my favorite minibar choice - the Raspberry Barbican tastes like fizzy cough syrup. Can't stand Vinmo. Don't know why anyone would drink Budweiser NA (even if it wasn't NA! reminds me of a vegetarian friend who is addicted to soy hot dogs).

To the OP: the overwhelming variety of Saudi and Kuwaiti non-alc beverages is one of the most interesting cultural things about the region. Entire aisles in major grocery stores are dedicated to non-acoholic malted mock beers and fizzy fruity mock wines.

Pomegranate juice is my favourite, but be careful - it has more sugar than coke !

Stay away from the NA Amstel. Vile :td:

If you dine out at a local restaurant (e.g. Thai), try asking for the "special tea" :D

To the OP: the overwhelming variety of Saudi and Kuwaiti non-alc beverages is one of the most interesting cultural things about the region. Entire aisles in major grocery stores are dedicated to non-acoholic malted mock beers and fizzy fruity mock wines.

Ah, Saudi champagne ... apple juice and 7-Up ...

The best i think would be to use the trip as the annual detox time..

Ah, Saudi champagne ... apple juice and 7-Up ...

Apple juice and perrier is better... ;)

Beware that all suitcases are x-rayed on their way from the hold to luggage belt, and marked if they contain anything that requires more investigation. You can try bringing something in your hand luggage which will be searched, what happens is up to the individual officer and whether he is being watched by a more senior officer.

The best i think would be to use the trip as the annual detox time..

It may be time to become a friend of Bill. ;)

It may be time to become a friend of Bill. ;)

Friend of Bill..??

Friend of Bill..??

Let me Google that for you (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Friend+of+Bill).

Let me Google that for you (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Friend+of+Bill).

Good one...:)

Post starting this thread, the local agent from Kuwait mailed in advising the team to tank up as much as possible on the flight to KWI, as it was going to be pretty much a dry scene there..

Definitely not a dry scene. You just need to be invited to the right parties. You can get anything in Kuwait. (including stuff which is illegal in western countries)

Definitely not a dry scene. You just need to be invited to the right parties. You can get anything in Kuwait. (including stuff which is illegal in western countries)

If you are offered any "hospitality", just be sure you know and trust everyone present. I've been offered all manner of things in Saudi, etc and felt it better to decline gracefully rather than tempt fate.

That said, Australian and Irish embassy parties trump anything by the Brits or Yanks :)

I lived in Kuwait for a year in the late 80's and it seems little has changed. Booze was available if you knew who to ask and wanted to pay the price. We had about 1/2 of a 40ft container dedicated to brewing beer, making wine and distilling flash. 250 liters of beer, 150 liters of wine and a large trash can fermenting away waiting on the still to extract the alcohol from it at any one time.

Later we found a guy who had a really nice stainless steel still in his spare bathroom, thermocouple controlled and able to produce gallons and gallons of high proof "flash". He had his wife operating it as a job for her, paid a lot more than anything else he could find her..........

Mine was a short trip and there wasn't much time aside of work to scout around for the brew..hence just had to manage..

I lived in Kuwait for a year in the late 80's and it seems little has changed. Booze was available if you knew who to ask and wanted to pay the price. We had about 1/2 of a 40ft container dedicated to brewing beer, making wine and distilling flash. 250 liters of beer, 150 liters of wine and a large trash can fermenting away waiting on the still to extract the alcohol from it at any one time.

Later we found a guy who had a really nice stainless steel still in his spare bathroom, thermocouple controlled and able to produce gallons and gallons of high proof "flash". He had his wife operating it as a job for her, paid a lot more than anything else he could find her..........

Interesting story!:)

Just curious, what kind of punishments should be expected for consuming/buying alcohol or even producing alcoholic beverages?

Interesting story!:)

Just curious, what kind of punishments should be expected for consuming/buying alcohol or even producing alcoholic beverages?

No idea, I never heard of anyone being "caught" and punished. I would always bring a liter of bourbon in each trip, sometimes they would let me keep it, other times they would just take it away from me.

I had an interesting experience coming back from the States once, I purchased beer/wine yeast, barley and hops and filled my SCUBA BC up with 3 liters of bourbon. I knew the lax customs check would not be a problem, trouble is Royal Jordanian lost my bag and I had to go to the airport to pick it up. Instead of the usual busy airport and quick check it's just me and about 10 customs agents with nothing to do besides pick through my stuff.

They felt the BC sloshing around while I sweated but didn't ask any questions, but the yeast/barley/hops prompted them to insist that this was for making beer. I insisted it was for making chili and after about 5 minutes of back and forth they sent me on my way with my supplies. :D