They gather in empty villas, on beaches and under bridges. The death four years ago of a British boy has had little effect on underage drinking.
ABU DHABI // Underaged drinkers as young as 12 are gathering in empty villas, on beaches and under bridges for unsupervised parties with alcohol, residents say.
Residents, parents and teens say pupils are obtaining alcohol from people who sell it from the backs of cars or by bribing drivers and maids to go to licensed stores for them.
It is four years this month that 15-year-old Harry Harling, a British student, fell to his death after drinking at a party in an unfinished Dubai building.
But the tragedy has not deterred other teenagers from drinking at such gatherings.
Annabelle, 14, says she has seen teens drinking at several parties.
“I’ve also heard about lots of parties in Al Zeina that involved underage drinking,” she says.
“Youths are aware of the consequences of getting drunk but they don’t really seem to care because it’s ‘fun’ and ‘exciting’, from what they hear. Some people also do it to seem cool and end up forgetting about the dangers.”
D B, an Abu Dhabi resident, says teenagers often drink in unused properties.
“I know there have been some parties in vacant villas in Al Reef,” she says.
The Canadian expatriate believes many teenagers drink out of boredom and a lack things to do in their spare time.
“If we don’t give teens an outlet, how can we expect them not to act out?” she asks.
Jessica Rita Chedid, a Lebanese expatriate who has lived in Abu Dhabi since she was a teenager and experimented with alcohol when she was younger, explains how her peers used to obtain alcohol.
“The way they do it is they’d send an adult – for example, the driver – to the liquor store after paying them to buy them the alcohol,” says Ms Chedid, now 26.
Murtaza Hussain, a 15-year-old Pakistani living in Mediterranean Village in Al Reef, has seen her peers drinking.
“In downtown of Al Reef by the Select Supermarket, I have seen many teens drinking alcohol with people sometimes much younger than their age,” Murtaza says.
Another Al Reef resident, M F, has also seen teenagers drinking alcohol in public areas.
“It’s quite disturbing as some of them are as young as 12,” she says. “There is not a lot for teenagers to do here – it is no excuse for the drinking but it doesn’t help.
“Teenagers are sneaking out of houses at night and meeting up and drinking and smoking in the parks when their parents believe them to be in bed asleep.
“They are then sneaking back into their residences at 4am.”
Another resident has seen teenagers drinking under the bridge between Al Zeina and Al Muneera, “very loud and obviously drunk”, while Masoud Dawoudi, a Dubai resident, believes underage drinking is rife.
“I was a witness at one liquor store here selling drinks to three boys who didn’t look older than 15 to 16,” Mr Dawoudi says.
“Those who decide to act stupid despite their age and experience will deservedly have to deal with the consequences, which can be severe in some cases.”
The minimum age for those seeking an alcohol licence in the UAE is 21.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
Haemoglobin disorders explained
Thalassaemia is part of a family of genetic conditions affecting the blood known as haemoglobin disorders.
Haemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that carries oxygen and a lack of it triggers anemia, leaving patients very weak, short of breath and pale.
The most severe type of the condition is typically inherited when both parents are carriers. Those patients often require regular blood transfusions - about 450 of the UAE's 2,000 thalassaemia patients - though frequent transfusions can lead to too much iron in the body and heart and liver problems.
The condition mainly affects people of Mediterranean, South Asian, South-East Asian and Middle Eastern origin. Saudi Arabia recorded 45,892 cases of carriers between 2004 and 2014.
A World Health Organisation study estimated that globally there are at least 950,000 'new carrier couples' every year and annually there are 1.33 million at-risk pregnancies.
Rajasthan Royals 153-5 (17.5 ov)
Delhi Daredevils 60-4 (6 ov)
Rajasthan won by 10 runs (D/L method)
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
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Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
THE BIO
Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
Favourite cuisine: Italian food
Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
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The biog
Favourite car: Ferrari
Likes the colour: Black
Best movie: Avatar
Academic qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in media production from the Higher Colleges of Technology and diploma in production from the New York Film Academy
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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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now