Saudi Arabia has unveiled updated regulations on alcohol as it prepares to open the inaugural liquor store in Riyadh, the capital city. The sale and consumption of alcohol in Saudi Arabia are strictly prohibited, with violations carrying penalties such as lashes, deportation, fines, and imprisonment.
The new regulations regarding alcohol quotas for non-Muslim diplomatic missions aim to address the issue of the illicit trade of alcohol goods, according to a statement from the Center of International Communication (CIC), a government body.
According to Reuters, the first alcohol store in Riyadh will exclusively cater to non-Muslim diplomats. The CIC responded to the report, stating that a "new process will focus on allocating specific quantities of alcohol goods when entering the Kingdom to put an end to the previous unregulated process that caused an uncontrolled exchange of such goods in the Kingdom."
While the CIC did not explicitly mention the opening of a store, it indicated that the new regulatory framework is introduced to counter the illicit trade of alcohol goods and products received by diplomatic missions.
Despite the longstanding ban on alcohol, Saudi Arabia, under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been working on transforming its tourism industry as part of a broader economic diversification initiative. This has led to speculation about the potential legalization of alcohol in the Kingdom in the near future.
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