Saudi to Open First Ever Booze Store

Here’s news to keep some folks in Saudi Arabia “in good spirits”. The country’s capital of Riyadh is set to open its first ever liquor store. However, the alcohol shop will be off limits to Muslim nationals, tourists, expats and overseas officials. Yes, the permission to purchase branded inebriants has been extended only to non-Islamic foreign officials in the city.

Accordingly, the new and exclusive outlet will be situated in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, a locality which is home to embassies and diplomats. Local authorities have put a protocol in place to ensure that the bottled inebriants don’t wind up in the wrong hands. After all, as per religious law, alcohol consumption is forbidden to Muslims. Those caught indulging were once sentenced to public whipping, a punishment which has been replaced with jail terms.

To set the purchase process in motion, customers will have to register through a mobile app and then wait for a clearance code from the foreign ministry. Furthermore, Saudi authorities are to keep a tab on the volume of sale by imposing certain monthly quotas. The Centre for International Communication (CIC) has said that the new provisions come in an attempt to counter alcohol trading in black.

Nevertheless, this move marks a significant landmark for the ultra-conservative country. It comes in line with the nation’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims to open up the country to tourism and business. Also, while the world is swaying toward more renewable energy, Saudi Arabia among other OPEC nations, need to adapt to seismic changes and build post-oil economies.

Already under the rule of forward-thinking Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the country has loosened up on several constrictive policies. These include the segregation of men and women in public spaces and non-black clothing for ladies. Directives from the top have also permitted the holding of concerts and allowing women to drive, while opening up the country to non-religious tourism. With such a shift in momentum, the day might not be far off when more people in the Arabic kingdom will raise a glass to each other.