Saudi Arabia to Open First Alcohol Shop in 70 Years for Diplomats

Credit: Unspalsh

Saudi Arabia Opening an Alcohol Store and People are NOT Happy.

Saudi Arabia has announced plans to open its first alcohol shop in over 70 years, located in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter. The shop will cater exclusively to non-Muslim diplomatic staff, aiming to counter the illicit trade of alcohol. This move is part of the country’s broader initiatives under “Vision 2030” to liberalize its society.

The clientele will be restricted to diplomatic staff, who have historically imported alcohol in sealed official packages known as diplomatic pouches. However, the new store will offer a more convenient and regulated way for diplomats to access alcohol. The shop is expected to open within weeks, subject to registration and clearance by the government.

To maintain control over alcohol consumption, the Saudi authorities have outlined several limitations for the new shop:

• Patrons must be over 21 years old and adhere to a dress code.
• Only registered diplomatic staff will be allowed to purchase alcohol.
• Monthly limits will be enforced, with patrons restricted to 240 “points” of alcohol per month, where different types of alcohol have varying point values.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has lost all its shame and the opening of Alcohol stores on the pious land is just one of the many examples.

— حسن نصر الله (@SH_NasrallahEng) January 24, 2024

While this development marks a significant shift in Saudi Arabia’s stance on alcohol, it’s important to note that the sale and consumption of alcohol remain prohibited for the general population under Saudi law. Penalties for unauthorized possession or consumption of alcohol can include fines, jail time, public flogging, and deportation of foreigners.

The Saudi government also plans to introduce a new regulatory framework to govern the importation of specific quantities of alcohol by diplomats, aiming to control the exchange of such goods more effectively.

The opening of the alcohol shop aligns with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to modernize its society and economy under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. While other Gulf states like the UAE and Qatar have more lenient alcohol regulations, there are no indications that Saudi Arabia plans to extend alcohol sales to non-diplomatic foreigners at this time.

The decision to open the alcohol shop comes after a historical prohibition since 1952, following an incident where a Saudi prince fatally shot a British diplomat in a drunken altercation. This event led to a complete ban on alcohol by King Abdulaziz.