Alcohol & Drugs : Planning Your Trip

Alcohol & Drugs Despite observant Muslims’ complaints, alcohol is legal for all ages in Egypt and Jordan, but may be hard to come by. Israel’s drinking age is 18. Never buy, possess, or use drugs in any country. Israeli, Egyptian, and Jordanian authorities all regard drug possession as an extremely serious offense. If you’re lucky, you’ll only be kicked out of the country. Don’t expect much consolation from your consulate either. Consular officers can visit the prisoner, provide a list of attorneys, and inform family and friends. They cannot obtain any more lenient treatment than that dictated by the laws of the country.

You and your belongings may be searched thoroughly however you enter a country (land, sea, or air). Avoid unintentional involvement-refuse to carry or deliver packages for strangers, no matter how convincing or persuasive their stories. For more information on international drug restrictions and what the American consulate can and cannot do, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the brochure Travel Warning on Drugs Abroad, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Dept. of Public Affairs #5807, U.S. Dept, of State, Washington, DC (tel. (202) 647-1488).