This Country Has Been Under Prohibition For 72 Years After a Deadly Diplomatic Dispute — Now, the Rules Are Changing

Saudi Arabia is opening its first liquor store following a period of prohibition since 1952. (Photo: Gado/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)

On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia will be opening a liquor shop in Riyadh set to sell alcohol to non-Muslim expats after over 70 years of prohibition. This break in a diplomatic dry spell might signify that the country is loosening up its view on alcohol.

The BBC reports that only “diplomatic staff” are allowed to purchase liquor in the store and need to register beforehand. Government clearance is required for those interested in purchasing liquor from the shop, and proper dress is mandatory for all who frequent the store according to the outlet. If customers are interested in purchasing alcohol from the liquor store, they must go in person, as no third parties are allowed.

The shop will be additionally enforcing monthly limits per customer based on a points system. Each customer is allowed to purchase 240 points of alcohol a month. A liter of spirits is worth six points, wine is worth three points and beer is worth one point.

Reuters reports that the laws will not be too strictly enforced.

At present, individuals in possession of alcohol can be subjected to corporal punishment such as public flogging, jail time, fines and deportation, the BBC writes. Diplomatic staff were allowed to consume alcohol, as long as it was kept in special diplomatic pouches that remained sealed.

The country implemented prohibition in 1952 after King Abdulaziz’s son, Prince Mishari bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, drunkenly shot a British vice-consul named Cyril Ousman dead one year prior. The prince chose to shoot the consul after he refused to pour him another drink.

Mishari was convicted of murder and prohibition was instilled in the country.

Though one could understand a government’s desire to regulate alcohol, sometimes prohibition can have deadly consequences. In July, 14 people died after drinking tainted bootleg alcohol in Northern Iran.

Alcohol has been outlawed by the Iranian government since the Islamic Revolution, which took place in 1979.

Despite the ban, rates of alcoholism in the country remain relatively high and a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine which ran in late May cited the prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption ranging between 6.9 to 18.8% in the country.

Join the Whiskey Raiders Bottle of the Month Club, where you will receive hard-to-find bottles curated by Whiskey Raiders staff with a 90+ rating on whiskeyraiders.com plus live virtual tastings. Sign up here!