Saudia Arabia is readying to open its first alcohol store to exclusively cater to Non-Muslim diplomats, news agency Reuters reported quoting a source familiar with the plans and a document. According to the document accessed by the news agency, customers will need to register via a mobile application to get a clearance quote from the foreign ministry and abide by the monthly quotas.
Officials said the move will counter "the illicit trade of alcohol", the BBC reported. Prohibition has been a law in the nation since 1952 after one of King Abdulaziz's sons shot dead a British diplomat in a drunken state.
However, the store will also have some limitations even though they might not be stringent. According to reports those below the age of 21 will not be allowed in the store and "proper attire is required" at all times inside. Drinkers will also not be able to send a proxy such as drivers apart rules about the monthly quotas. Moreover, patrons will be limited to 240 "points" of alcohol per month - with a litre of spirit being six points, a litre of wine amounting to three points, and one litre of beer being one point, BBC reported.
The BBC report also said it's not clear if ordinary foreigners without diplomatic privileges would be able to access alcohol.
This move backed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is being seen as the kingdom's efforts to open the nation, where drinking alcohol is forbidden, for tourism and business. It is also part of the wider plans known as Vision 2030 to build an economy beyond oil.
The new store would be located in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter which houses embassies and diplomats and will be 'strictly restricted; to non-Muslims, Reuters said. However, it was unclear if other non-Muslim expatriates would have access to the store.
Reuters reported the store is expected to open in the coming weeks.
For the unversed, Saudia Arabia has stringent rules against drinking punishable by hundreds of lashes, deportation, fines, or imprisonment and expatriates also face deportation. However, off-late whipping has largely been replaced by jail sentences as part of reforms. So far, alcohol was only available through diplomatic mail or on the black market.