"It may have escaped Sullivan, but for example the Hindus from India are hardly coming from a culture that thinks Brit Pub crawling is a great thing..."

I know this is just an aside but I'll comment on it anyway. Hinduism has nothing like the prohibition on alcohol that Islam has. While there are many strains, in general, Hinduism really hasn't that much to say about alcohol, per se, though I suppose there is a kind of general attitude that it's in bad taste to get falling-down drunk.

Many Hindus, especially from certain social classes, address this issue by acquiring astounding capacities for alcohol. I have been, for example, on pub crawls with many at least nominal Hindus and these folks did not pick up their ability to knock it back while visiting London on holiday. Their drinking skills were clearly honed over many years of diligent practice.

Hinduism does share with Islam, albeit not to Islam's often fanatical extent, a certain priggishness regarding nudity and public displays of affection. I've always thought this odd from a culture that gave the world the Kama Sutra and some of the most eye-popping temple art in human history, but there you are.

Anon: I suspect you've missed Lounsbury's point here. He isn't especially interested in Hindu scriptures, and well, neither are most Hindus. It's just that most Hindus in Dubai - and indeed Indian expatriates in general - hail from places where public drunkenness is very much frowned upon. Indeed, any amount of alcohol consumption may be viewed negatively, especially outside the biggest cities. This is because Indian society has for decades prized conservative values. Religion really isn't a major part of the discourse in India when various states discuss (or try to enforce) prohibition. Similarly, Dubai's latest press release on this subject has more to do with Khaleeji social norms than Quranic injunctions.

Thanks Anon Mate, you've pointed out the bloody goddamned obvious and entirely missed the bloody point of my observation.

However, traditional Hindus from India don't much approve of public besottedness a la Londres, and even women going out to drink.

Well, in any case Dubaiwalla at least proved he has above average reading skills, thanks.

Although Dubaiwalla DOES indeed have above-average reading skills, they weren't even required here.

Our first commenter rather illustrates how people constantly read into discussions of Middle East mores and social customs/regulations imputations about robotic applications of creeping Sharia, as Sullivan himself did, and was clearly not the case in the above entry.

Just stumbled across this blog, and have been enjoying the many articles posted here, until I came across the word "Pakibastards" in this entry. I'm Pakistani and I'd really like to know why you use this term to describe Pakistanis who live in Dubai.

I might add that I have visited Dubai six or seven times in my life, and have many relatives and friends who live there.

Purely for the self-entertainment value and rendering a boring observation more colourful and fun (for me).

Rest assured, I have nothing against Pakibastids, nor Anglobastids, nor any particular bastids. The phrasing simply entertains me.

Ha ha! Fair enough. I can now rest, assured.