Aussie influencer reveals eye-watering price for two drinks in Dubai and it's truly shocking
Ex-pat Australian influencer Louise Starkey stunned followers after sharing a video of her bank statement from a night out in Dubai. The clip shows two drinks costing AED 380, or about AUD 154, during a Black Coffee concert. "I can't get over the fact I paid 380 dirham for two drinks last night," Louise said in the clip. "I looked at the bartender and I was like: 'Are you for real? That's crazy.'" Louise revealed that an order of two vodka and Red Bulls set her back AED 380, or a whopping $154 Australian dollars.
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Two double shot vodka Red Bulls cost AED 380 at a Black Coffee concert
She continued: "Do you know what the drinks were? Two double shot vodka Red Bulls. It wasn't a cocktail. I didn't get eight of them either. I got two," a shocked Louise said in the clip. Louise then did a price comparison to highlight the venue's insane asking price for the beverages. "In comparison to what I could pay at the bottle shop, in rack," she said before showing a picture of Skyy Vodka retailing for 40 dirhams, and Absolut Vodka at 144 dirhams. Louise did concede that she expected a price hike on the booze given that she was attending a concert, adding that even the bartender baulked at the price. "Don't get me wrong, I know I was at Black Coffee last night. For real, I expect a mark-up but not that," she said. "Our bartender knew. He looked at me and he was like: \"yeah,\"" Louise added in a sheepish tone.
Bartender knew and Louise's price sting underscores the mark-up
The influencer admitted that her shock was due to the fact that she rarely drinks, and when she does, often receives them for free. "Most of the time, I rarely drink. This is really shocking. Is this also what guys pay on dates? Do you pay for this? I feel so bad for you," Louise said. She also described her own experience of freebies: "I don't want to rub it in but any time I get drinks I usually get them for free. I'm part of quite a few women's groups and we kind of just get it for free at the venue because you post about it."
Online reactions split on Dubai's drink prices
Louise's post elicited a flurry of comments from followers. "I bought 2 beers in Dubai and never went out again for my remaining time there. The recreational budget was gone," one wrote. Another chimed in with a similar sentiment: "Scam central out here, gotta be specific otherwise they use the top shelf stuff. Ended up paying 1k for 5 tequila shots once like this." A third agreed, claiming that they were "almost bankrupted" by two gin and tonics. "Yep... I paid 398 dirhams for two gin and tonics in Versace. Had them, packed up and left. Night was about to get me bankrupt," they wrote. However, others pointed out that such prices are typical in Dubai: "Yes this is normal – is not expensive," and "It's an event, very common, will agree that it's pretty s***ty though." The thread closed with a concise verdict: "Tell me you've never paid for a drink in Dubai without telling me."
