Liquor Store Opens in Saudi Arabia for the First Time in Over 70 Years
In a groundbreaking move, Saudi Arabia has opened its first liquor store in over 70 years, marking a significant step towards social liberalization in the once-ultraconservative kingdom. Located in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, the store is currently restricted to non-Muslim diplomats. This development aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision of transforming Saudi Arabia into a thriving tourism and business hub, diversifying its economy away from crude oil.
The store, described as resembling an upscale duty-free shop at a major international airport, sits adjacent to a supermarket. It offers a selection of liquor, wine, and two types of beer for the time being. To maintain security and adherence to social norms, customers are required to present their diplomatic identifications and place their mobile phones inside pouches while inside the store. Purchases can be made through a mobile app using an allotment system.
While Saudi officials have not commented on the opening of the store, it coincides with new regulations outlined in the English-language newspaper Arab News. The rules aim to regulate alcohol sales to diplomats in the kingdom, curbing the uncontrolled importation of alcoholic beverages within diplomatic consignments. These regulations came into effect on Monday, according to the newspaper.
Previously, diplomats had been able to import liquor through a specialty service for consumption on diplomatic grounds. Those without access resorted to purchasing alcohol from bootleggers or brewing their own at home. However, it is important to note that consuming alcohol is considered haram, or forbidden, in Islam. Saudi Arabia remains one of the few countries in the world that strictly bans alcohol, along with Kuwait and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
The ban on alcohol in Saudi Arabia dates back to the early 1950s when King Abdulaziz, the kingdom’s founding monarch, prohibited its sale following a tragic incident. In 1951, one of his sons, Prince Mishari, became intoxicated and used a shotgun to kill British vice consul Cyril Ousman in Jeddah. Subsequently, Saudi Arabia’s rulers embraced Wahhabism, an ultraconservative Islamic doctrine, which led to the implementation of strict gender separation, the ban on women driving, and other conservative measures.
Under the leadership of Prince Mohammed and his father, King Salman, Saudi Arabia has embarked on a path of social reforms. The kingdom has opened movie theaters, lifted the ban on women driving, and even hosted major music festivals. However, political speech and dissent remain criminalized, with severe penalties, including death, for those who engage in such activities.
As Saudi Arabia prepares for its ambitious $500 billion Neom project, a futuristic city, rumors have circulated about the possibility of serving alcohol at a beach resort within the development. While there may be some openness to the idea, sensitivities surrounding alcohol consumption in the kingdom persist. An official who suggested that alcohol could be considered at Neom in 2022 was swiftly removed from the project shortly after his statement.
The opening of the liquor store in Riyadh signifies a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s journey towards social liberalization. It reflects the changing dynamics within the kingdom as it strives to attract tourism and diversify its economy. However, challenges remain, both in terms of the international reputation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 and the conservative Islamic mores deeply ingrained in Saudi society. Nonetheless, this development is a testament to the evolving landscape of Saudi Arabia and its aspirations for a more open and inclusive future.
