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New alcohol regulations have been revealed in Saudi Arabia ahead of the opening of the first liquor store in the capital, Riyadh.
Regulations governing alcohol quotas for non-Muslim diplomatic missions are meant to “combat the illicit industry of alcoholic products,” the government’s Center for International Communication (CIC) said in a statement.
Reuters cited a source familiar with the task and a document saying Saudi Arabia will open its first liquor store in the capital, Riyadh, which will cater exclusively to non-Muslim diplomats.
In response to the Reuters report, the CIC told CNN 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.”
The CIC specified whether a store would be opened, but said the new “regulatory framework has been created to combat the illicit industry of alcoholic products and products obtained through diplomatic missions,” the CIC said.
The sale and consumption of alcohol in Saudi Arabia is strictly prohibited and punishable by flogging, deportation, fines, and imprisonment.
However, the country led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has moved toward reforming its tourism industry as part of a grand vision to diversify the economy. This has led to speculation about the option of legalizing alcohol in the Kingdom in the near future.
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