Someone emailed me this liquor permit dating back to 1964 when alcohol was still legal in Kuwait. This permit was set to expire on August 31st 1965 but alcohol ended up getting banned completely at the end of 1964. Here is the full version of the image above. [Picture]
If you’ve missed my previous post from TIME magazine dating back to 1965 talking about how alcohol was banned in Kuwait click [Here]
Thanks Alban
Update: The permit was scanned and posted originally by Rwatan.
45 replies on “Liquor permit from 1964”
Wow….That stamp aged well, didn’t fade a bit.
Aaah the good old days… sigh
I thought alcohol was banned early 1970s…I could be mistaken.
Original post (and the person who scanned the real/original letter) is here
https://rwatan.blogspot.com/2009/01/blog-post_13.html
He is the one who took the name out (or covered it with red)…. just to give him credit.
He also have another scanned permit for brothel (believe it or not)!
That’s so awesome. Kuwait was way better back in the day.
hilaliya: i thought alcohol was banned in 1978 but then I read the TIME article.
Thanks God Kuwait changed to what it is now.
PBK: Proud to be Kuwaiti
up until 1979 one could fly in with a couple of bottles of scotch, wrapped in newspaper,, the customs officials (women at the time), would have a look and let you pass with the stuff. It was officially banned but not enforced at the airport if one carried a “normal” amount.. AH / the good_ol_days
I HAVE THAT! my dad showed me tht same permit with my grandfathers name on it. he got it back i nthe 50’s i think. not many people have that in kuwait
They should have continued, and banned women driving, ban satellite dishes, Ban on opening shops during prayer times, etc, until you people realise the difference of freedom of choice, and enforcing a religious way of life on you.
Just look at Iran, Saudi Arabia and Taliban ruled Afghanistan.. They had to be taken into the extreme for them to realise that enough was enough. The days of religious dividing and ruling us are over, enough is enough.
Dark ages= an age when religion ruled the world. 😉
Is this the same Mackenzie whos son is now a big shot in Al Ghanim ( with another name) , and who did some dodgy business a few years back and had to leave?
Sfsa78 what does drinkng have to do with “women driving” no comparison
, u do have a choice to get on a plane and go to bahrain, grab a drink and come back to kuwait(as if its not already availabe here). I don’t get it, do u want to flaunt ur drunk acts so u could be satisfied, I personally CAN live without drunk people running around in kuwait. why are u even comparing..even iran and saudi and taliban are dfferent…
AF : so in London, NY, Paris – do you see drunk people “running around” everywhere. Please be quiet and give Kuwait the freedom of choice it deserves. Sad that this license is no longer available.
A.f…
Too easy,
calling every liberal a drunk is as valid arguement as calling every muslim an extremist.
These islamo-fascist scare tactics that are very old do not intimidate and will not mute out the voice of reason and logic.
I think I have a right to enjoy the odd drink at home after a hard days work, with out being persecuted and prosecuted by your fascist kind… Wouldn’t you agree.. ?
The good old days !!!!
sfsa78 i agree with u on that and as far as drunk drivers is concerned, i am sorry to say but most of the locals here are already high on their arrogance, stupidity and its the other poor people who have to bear the brunt in the form of mishaps and accidents. u just have to read the newspapers to see as to how many accidents occur everyday and who is the prime cause for it.
why do you guys make it sound like everyone will be rushing to the stores to grab the last bottle of liquor if alcohol was legalized? Come on people, I hardly see the bottle of Red Lable replacing the bottle of Vimto on your dining tables.
Besides, if anything goes wrong, there are lots of genies to blame…and you can take them to court and people will take you seriously 😉
lol….I just love modern Arab mentality.
oh…and I use the term “modern” very very loosely.
Wow. If people are that desperate to drink then why not use the “democratic” system we have to change the law?
Why people are so concerned with stuff like that.. Just if you wana do wrong do wrong u,,, wana do right do right, and stop making a big fuss of things which really dont make any results.
@ blackbarook: you said:
“why not use the “democratic” system we have to change the law?”
the problem is that our democratic system does not respect its own laws. Want proof? Just take a look at the last elections. How many members of the military and police voted? How many primary elections (far3iyaat) took place?
But we all know that hypocrisy is very well institutionalized in our system that it became a part of our culture…sadly.
What’s with all the noise about alcohol in Q8? Alcohol is not necessary. I drink, but because it is not available here, it does not bother me. No one is forcing you to stay in Kuwait, you have a choice.
I think Q8 has bigger problems.
Who would not like to see/hear some live music while dining, or even attend a live music event. Get some more social activities for people. (No alcohol needed) start small see what happens. You don’t need to drink to have fun.
Oh by the way I am an Expat, been here for 30 years. Found an interesting article (In Saudi)
https://www.zawya.com/story.cfm?id=ZAWYA20090713031031&l=031000090713&zawyaemailmarketing
Blackbarook,
there are times when the voting majority are ignorant. For axample they are now voting people in to parliament that promise to waste our reserves by just writing off loans and increasing salaries etc just so they can win the election.
Another example;
if you left slavery in the USA upto democracy, then you would still have slavery today. The majority wanted slavery because the majority were profiting out of it… Thus, civil war broke loose, which ended slavery.
So I doubt you could vote in alchohol, especially when the religious fanatics have seized control of the minds of the masses, and hijacked their common sense, and scared them to death by drilling them with ideas of eternal torture in hell. (by the way, if they do that to children, then it is considered as child abuse… But huh, how should we know, since these extremists seem to think they own a monopoly on morals!!)
Liberate: Do u go out in kuwait, have u seen the people, or u just blabber on?? AND yes I DO SEE drunk ARABS in Bahrain, dubai, and london and paris…AS you said . BE QUIET and look at how the arabs act when they are drunk .abroad..disgusting…again i repeat..don’t act like drinking does not exist @@..they naturally drive like sh*t do we need to be drunk.you control ur drinking others don’t…
A.f… What’s your point?
If you apply this same logic of yours on other things, then you’ll understand how ridiculas your arguement is:
The population of Kuwait doesn’t respect rules and laws, so allowing cars in Kuwait is wrong. Therefore ban cars.
@ Sfsa78
wallah you have a good point! Yalla ban all the cars from Kuwait so we can have it accident free!
No alcohol + no cars = ACCIDENT FREE KUWAIT!!! No wait…people will still be bumping into each others business which will still cause accidents! You know why? Cause its a Kuwait thing!
kil wa7id eydakhil 3i9a ib shay ma ey5i9a! That is and will always be our mentality!
Apparently people here do not understand the fundamental concept of law. Law is not about majority and minority, if it was we would have wrecked our constitution by now. Law is engrained in deeper roots whether cultural, historical or from religion. It becomes the basis of law. Islamic law is about commercial law, inheritance, land ownership, marital conflict, custody issues etc. It became the basis of law in Kuwait. For people to pick and choose which law they like and dislike will weaken the whole system. To allow drinking means child alimony could also be deleted because you have set a precedence. It is Islam that banned drinking, not Kuwait. Kuwait law was vulnerable by simply allowing it. Any debate about drinking however is purely religious and does not concern the law.
well u said it “Realist” a law of Islam (or any religion for that matter) should not be inforced upon a country and it’s people. Religion is a personal choice and it sould always be like this. Not forced on you like food dish u dont like and u have to go around corners as an adult to live your life as you want. Sfsa78 point 11 said it right there, “Dark ages= an age when religion ruled the world”
What I have found after 6 years in this country, u need more education and a broader view.. there is more to life than ur cars and food.
Few but very well educated Kuwaiti’s are my friends and I see them build this country with their bare hands and at the same time having a glass of wine at night with out beeing scared of any religious law’s or rulers.
Controll is the issue, well u need to relax and live ur lifes as adults… not this kinder garden mentality.
D’fined..
Well said.. Couldn’t have said it any better.
I’ll leave you with a quote by Thomas Jefferson (3rd president of the united states):
Because religious belief, or non-belief, is such an important part of every person’s life, freedom of religion affects every individual. Religious institutions that use government power in support of themselves and force their views on persons of other faiths, or of no faith, undermine all our civil rights. Moreover, state support of an established religion tends to make the clergy unresponsive to their own people, and leads to corruption within religion itself. Erecting the “wall of separation between church (mosque) and state,” therefore, is absolutely essential in a free society.
Going into the path of religion is more deep than a simple liquor license. It requires a dicussion in the context of history not just stating personal preferrences.
What history are you talking about? The dark ages? The Spanish iquisition? The seperation of Pakistan from India? The fight between Protestants and Catholics in India? The persecution of Shiites in Saudi Arabia? The taking away of Arab land from Arabs by the Jews?….. All in the name of religion.
Download When the Moors Ruled Europe….might be a good start.
religion + state planning = failed state
Where is the Islamic Empire today, Realist? Gone! You know why? Because the system failed and that is the reality. Had it been a good system of governence then the empire would still be around today.
Do you know what was one of the main ingredients of its demise? Corruption and greed! How ironic, huh?
Want something closer to home? Keep an eye on the situation in Iran, for we are witnissing the failure of that Islamic Republic as well.
Yepp, and even if it is personal view it dosn’t mean we have no personal expirience to the matter. And for that I will be a bit personal for you to understand.
I come from a family with long roots in Jehovas Vitnes one of the biggest and most fanatic branches of christianity, I have seen brain washing and manipulation up close since I was a child. The bible has been inturbitated in so many ways.. no one is really sure what is the truth.. it is like the women of the family saying their cooking is the best..and no one know for sure. I stood up as 15 years old and told them I choose to hold my believes until the world can agree and God shows his face. And I am now 35 and I found that I belive in an energy but not in a religion telling me to ware this and do that for the purpose pleasing a God I dont know excist. I can be good on my own and I help others on my own.. I just use common sense.
I am not sure this is sinking in because every exprience is personal… this is also the reason why I firmly believe Religion sould be personal between u and your own believes.. not global and inforced.
Peace
Realist…
Be realistic… The moors were not invited. They entered Europe just like saddam entered Kuwait… Lol
they might have built some nice palaces etc… So did saddam.
D’fined…
You wrote:
“no one is really sure what is the truth.. it is like the women of the family saying their cooking is the best..and no one know for sure.”
you might find this quote interesting:
“We must respect the other fellow’s religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.”
— H. L. Mencken
@ Realist
Download “The Root of all Evil” and “Religulous” these might a serve as a real good start for you to be a bit more….realistic… about things.
When the Moors ruled in Europe is one of my favorite historical documentaries and I highly recommend it. Its like “Lawrance of Arabia” meets “The Message” so check it out.
Religulous was also surprisingly good keeping in mind that Bill Maher did the whole movie. Funny and intriguing….also check it out.
Re ..no 29. D’fined no and 35.
If what you are saying should be the right thing to do in your eyes and opinion. Then why don’t you present a bill or an appeal to the high court of appeal in Utah and try to convince fanatic branches of christianity in the USA and the democrats to legalized the use, sell, and trade or MIRIJUANA. How would you like it if a group of hippies and free minded souls go all the way to the Supreme court AND Capital hill and fight for their right to GET HIGH ….. Based on your arguments its the personal choice as free human I wonder why cant I see any Smoke Shops like in the USA like Amsterdam, and I wonder why do the cops arrest people in the states when they smoke or sell any MIRIJUANA at their own homes, parties and streets, or when they try to bring it across the border. Do you prepose banning those LAWS AS WELL…..???
The need of laws is absolute, its what the pillars of societies are based on, otherwise the people would live like animals and lawlessness would spread around everywhere. We have our laws in Kuwait, and other countries have theirs on their own land.
Although some reforms would not be harmful, step by step people one step at a time and another for the next. You cant have it all at the same time.. This is after all a lovely country with nice people and good and respectful way of living and securing your feature. Otherwise the Jazeera Air offers cheep deals to Dubai, Bahrain, Beirut, Amman, Syria and Sharm el Shaiekh. People can fly there for a relaxing weekend and drink freely with no worries…
Cheers
@ Sami – you said:
“Although some reforms would not be harmful, step by step people one step at a time and another for the next. You cant have it all at the same time.. ”
my dear, we used to have a privilege a few decades ago and now we’ve lost it. If you meant step by step in losing privileges, then you are right on the money because that seems to be the trend.
also – you said:
“The need of laws is absolute, its what the pillars of societies are based on, otherwise the people would live like animals and lawlessness would spread around everywhere.”
no shit! that’s why they have jails to cage these “animals”…especially the crazy terrorist types with nothing better to do than hurt people. keeping in mind that they are sober 🙂
flux, The Root of All Evil is produced by who exactly ? 🙂 When the Moors Ruled Europe is produced by UK’s Channel 4, which is clearly non Islamic at all. Dig deeper in the the quality of info, not just gather info.
Flux…
Prof. Richard dawkins made the second part of “root of all evil”.. It’s called “the virus of faith”.. Just as good.
Realist…
The true path of thinking freely is asking questions, the right questions which you are now doing. The question is; who wrote the holy Quran, afterall it was written many years after the death of the prophet Mohamedذ
you should find out more about your own religion.. Ask what exactly is the kabba, and how was it given to abraham (when it fell out of the sky as a meteorite).
Someone great once wrote:
“Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned.”
blah, blah, blah, same as always. nothing changes. so who cares.
Sami
There is laws in Kuwait for driving safe, but I dont see many obay to doze rules….???, and I believe the reason why alcohol got banded in the first place was the lack of locals behaving impopper drunk. The thing is when something is banned it become more fun… thats why you will find the local’s in Amsterdam soper and not interested in Maya at all. What u can have every day becomes ignorant. Why is alcohol a problem in Bahrain, bc if the Saudis crossing the border and abusing it. Right or wrong?
Well Jeno said it.. waste of time to make sense to ignorant’s