Many people in the UK are shocked to hear that I don’t drink, I never have and do not plan to do so in the future. They would ask questions like these: not even a sip? Never in your whole life? Are you not tempted? These questions sum up a simple truth about consuming alcohol: it is so ingrained in the British culture that the very idea that someone is outside the alcohol club is incredible.
Last month, a UK think tank released a report noting that British Muslims are disproportionately represented in managerial and other professional occupations compared to other religious groups and that improving the participation of young Muslims in the labour market would be critical to promoting socio-economic integration and equality of opportunity in Britain.
The report said that one of the factors that could be contributing to this phenomenon is that many Muslims don’t drink alcohol. It is felt that alcohol plays a significant role in socialising, networking and career building. So it’s understandable why Muslims are in a disadvantageous position in terms of promotion in certain occupations.
It’s not just the workplace where alcohol facilitates acceptance. When socialising is done over a glass of wine, those who don’t drink may miss out on nurturing friendships.
There are alternatives, though. Consider the coffee culture. It is an alternative to the once ubiquitous invitation to “go for a drink”.
Successive governments have insisted that Muslims need to integrate more into the society. The conversation is focused on extremism and ghettoisation. But rarely do we discuss the challenges of socialising without alcohol.
It’s hard to talk about being a teetotaller, especially when you’re a Muslim, because it might fuel accusations of being self-righteous, of sounding preachy or worse, of trying to impose sharia law.
Despite these difficulties, we do need to communicate the challenges that come with not drinking. And we also need to give non-drinkers the space to point out how pervasive drinking is and the harm that it causes, something that is hard to see when it is normalised in daily life.
Whether through surprise at someone’s abstinence or anger at not conforming to that norm, the pronouncement is that Muslims and non-drinkers are no fun. This seems to be particularly the case for Muslim converts who leave behind friends and family that continue to drink. Those who have embraced Islam have spoken about how friends with whom they used to visit clubs are angry at them and see them as boring as they slowly drift apart.
They say that being sober during nights out made them unable to appreciate jokes and the lewd comments by the other gender. They now have to learn afresh how to socialise without alcohol and make new social networks.
There are no easy answers to solving this paradox. But perhaps an increasing push towards healthier and more responsible beverages, the rise of coffee and other alternative locations for socialising as well as greater awareness of the challenges of the alcohol culture might solve this issue. Who knows, without alcohol socialising could be even more fun.
Shelina Zahra Janmohamed is the author of Love in a Headscarf and blogs at www.spirit21.co.uk
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2a)
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Company%20profile
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Company%20Profile
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Oppenheimer
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
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Company profile
Date started: December 24, 2018
Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer
Based: Dubai Media City
Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)
Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech
Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year
Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 217hp at 5,750rpm
Torque: 300Nm at 1,900rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh130,000
On sale: now
'Ashkal'
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NBA Finals so far
(Toronto lead 3-1 in best-of-seven series_
Game 1 Raptors 118 Warriors 109
Game 2 Raptors 104 Warriors 109
Game 3 Warriors 109 Raptors 123
Game 4 Warriors 92 Raptors 105
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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3%20Body%20Problem
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The five pillars of Islam
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”