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Arabia
20 killed in Saudi Arabia after drinking cologne
2006-03-15
As many as 20 people died after drinking poisoned cologne in the cities of Mecca, Taif, Medina and Riyadh, the Saudi newspaper Okaz reported on Wednesday. The paper said 40 other people were also admitted to hospital, some in critical condition. The authorities carried out inspections to find the poisoned cologne, as large quantities of it have already been sold. The poisoned cologne can inflict a wide range of damage, including migraines, nausea, vomiting, severe stomach and back pains and infection of the pancreas. It also causes malfunctions in the nervous and respiratory systems, the paper said.
But it leaves your breath minty fresh
Saudi Arabia, which applies a strict interpretation of Islamic law, bans alcohol. Some people drink cologne in the kingdom as a substitute for alcohol.
Posted by:Steve

#18  Drat, one of my better punch lines and my cookie has to go Thinemble Snemble1456 berserk.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-03-15 17:46  

#17  A couple of the better brothels, located in seedy hotels (which I can't recall the names of, damnit!) within sight of the Grand Moskkk in Manama, are still in operation, lol, and probably serve booze.

Great - now I'll spend the rest of the day trying to remember their names.
Posted by: Pappy   2006-03-15 17:14  

#16  LOL, TS. They'd have to consult with ARAMCO to prevent genocide...
Posted by: Glert Thetch2165   2006-03-15 16:42  

#15  They'd shatter and spill the booze all over.

I can see the headlines now:

THOUSANDS DIE GORGING ON ALCOHOL TAINTED SAND
Posted by: Thinemble Snemble1456   2006-03-15 16:38  

#14  Makes you wonder what would happen if we airdropped a hundred thousand cases of Wild Turkey into the country.

They'd shatter and spill the booze all over.
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2006-03-15 14:51  

#13  It is suggested that the culprits gave themselves away via their scented farts...
Posted by: borgboy   2006-03-15 14:48  

#12  Hmmm. Makes you wonder what would happen if we airdropped a hundred thousand cases of Wild Turkey into the country.
Posted by: Perfesser   2006-03-15 13:33  

#11  Two other tidbits popped to mind:

1) The big hotels still have booze cuz it's a major money-maker and the Kingy Thingy, PM, and other power brokers are in on the "franchise rights".

2) The old Wednesday afternoon (from about 2:00-5:00 PM) mad dash across the causeway, that used to result in long wait lines and accidents, has disappeared. The reduction in business (estimated as high as 30% in Manama hotels and resaurants) has seriously hotel hurt occupancy, mall sales, etc. I guess they don't need the "Get in Lane. Stay in Lane." signs anymore, heh, since they were definitely directed at the Saudi drivers.
Posted by: .com   2006-03-15 12:48  

#10  Manama has, for the most part, been shut down. Bars closed all across the island when their new "King" rescinded the old Emir's exile of the fundies. They came back and immediately began the pressure to de-Westernize Bahrain. They've largely succeeded. This happened a couple of years ago. As I understand it, the big hotels still have bars - and you have to show a room key to get in. No big thang, just typical Muzzy power games. A couple of the better brothels, located in seedy hotels (which I can't recall the names of, damnit!) within sight of the Grand Moskkk in Manama, are still in operation, lol, and probably serve booze. What have they got to lose? Lol.
Posted by: .com   2006-03-15 12:27  

#9  Mixes great with sterno, too! (hic)

I'll bet the bodies still stank anyway.
Posted by: Zenster   2006-03-15 12:13  

#8  Maybe it's time to switch to Lysol like they did on the res way back when....
Posted by: Desert Blondie   2006-03-15 11:40  

#7  As many as 20 people died after drinking poisoned cologne in the cities of Mecca, Taif, Medina and Riyadh, the Saudi newspaper Okaz reported on Wednesday.

As opposed to just being "normal" in the Majik Kingdom and drinking NON-poisoned cologne. Jeez, just when I think my Karl Rove-Arabic decoder ring is dialed in, they go and do something logical (to them, at least) like that, lol!
Posted by: BA   2006-03-15 11:24  

#6  "Drinking a bottle of your wifes perfume makes it easier to explain to her why you would do such a thing in the first place"
Now, THAT'S my kind of logic!
Posted by: anonymous5089   2006-03-15 11:16  

#5  Sad part is that some poor dude is going to get beheaded just because he didnt think to make his cologne drinkable.
Posted by: bigjim-ky   2006-03-15 09:47  

#4  "Drinking a bottle of your wifes perfume makes it easier to explain to her why you would do such a thing in the first place"
Posted by: pihkalbadger   2006-03-15 09:40  

#3  Sounds like a lot of folks were accustomed to dringing cologne but the Religious Police caught on to the scheme and switched from ethyl to denatured alcohol in the cologne manufacture process. Sort of like was done in the US back during Prohibition, I think.
Posted by: Glenmore   2006-03-15 08:56  

#2  Some people drink cologne in the kingdom as a substitute for alcohol.

Hey Abdul, pass me the antifreeze... this cologne's off.
Posted by: Howard UK   2006-03-15 08:44  

#1  Appears they need a little R&R in Manama. I'll be sticking with my Guinness or Castle in a pinch.
Posted by: Visitor   2006-03-15 08:40  

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