Community report - Gulf News Dt. 01.08.2010 - Men drinking alcohol in public
As a passionate photographer, I love to explore the Capital city during the serene early hours of Friday and Saturday. As usual, I set out one morning at 7.30am and there were some activities awaiting my attention in the park at the Abu Dhabi Corniche.
As soon as I reached the location, a small hill surrounded by green fencing, I spotted a group of people in one corner sitting and talking. There were bottles scattered in front of them and one person was pouring something into a plastic container. I understood very clearly what they were doing from their behaviour.
As I moved around and continued clicking, I found myself back in the same spot after an hour and they were still progressing with their activities.
From the bold way in which this group of people openly drank alcohol at 8.30am, I felt that this was not the first time they had done it.
They may have had a steady supply of alcohol from someone nearby, or they would not have found such a convenient place and time to indulge in the practice. When I looked around, I saw families scattered around the park, and children playing in groups and by themselves, away from their families.
Fearful thoughts came to my mind. I remember the sad plight of young children I read about in the news, who had been abducted or molested.
This particular group soon reached an inebriated state and started drinking directly from the bottle. As I walked away, I saw them throwing and shattering the empty bottles on a nearby lamp post.
I strongly feel that this is not a one-off incident. Effective control measures are needed. I call for more vigilance and increased community policing in public parks and beaches during morning hours and evenings.
— The reader is a technical officer, based in Abu Dhabi
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Online readers comments to this article on GULF NEWS
ReplyDeleteAdded 15:55 August 1, 2010
This act is a very dangerous. Appeal to the government to take some certain strict steps against this threat. Thanks to the person for bringing this to the notice as this can pose a serious threat to the public, mainly the females who usually go out for the morning walks and as well evening. A our friend has seen them personally samashing bottles, what do you think they can do in this situation if they got out of control to the public in general especially the ladies and the children
Majid Hussain, Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates
Online readers comments to this article on GULF NEWS
ReplyDeleteAdded 11:21 August 1, 2010
Excellent Write up Ramesh. Great that we are aware of whats going on in town.Its really sad to see such a sight and the authoritys should be more vigilant in such matters. Imagine going out for a walk early morning and you come across people who are consuming alcohol.A park is place where a familys and children get to gether to have fun and such places should not be used to drink and spoil the environment.
Mathew Litty, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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ReplyDeleteAdded 10:46 August 1, 2010
this is the first time i am reading this type of news the u.a.e. government should take action on these people.
Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Online readers comments to this article on GULF NEWS
ReplyDeleteAdded 15:09 August 1, 2010
Though I appreciate the alert gulf news reader for bringing to the attention of the illegal activity of "men drinking in public" BUT at the same time, I would rap him for his meek, submissive attitude of not calling the police immediately & bringing the culprits to the book. Instead he wasted one hour taking photos, watching the group smash bottles, littering around & creating general public nuisance. In my opinion, this reader is an equal culprit in crime by prefering to remain silent at that moment. Was he waiting for all the possible fearful thoughts of his to materialise & then act? OR did he think that law & order is the sole pre-rogative of the police only and the comman man didn't have any role to play in it. OR was he more interested in getting his photographs & article published. I STRONGLY BELIEVE that IF we want to bring about a CHANGE, then one should be part of the CHANGE & not merely an OBSERVER.
Hari Achariya, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Online readers comments to this article on GULF NEWS
ReplyDeleteAdded 14:51 August 1, 2010
As this reader felt so strongly I am wondering why they did not contact the local police to ask them to do something, surely that would have been a much better way of getting soemthing done about these men. I feel that the men were wrong to be doing this and that it is not acceptable for them to be drinking in a public place and on a Friday in particular.
Anonymous, Sharjah, United Kingdom