The first store to open in more than 70 years in Riyadh will sell alcohol to a small group of non-Muslim foreigners, according to Saudi Arabia.
Only diplomatic personnel will be allowed to patronize; for years, they have imported alcohol in sealed official packets called diplomatic pouches.
The store, according to Saudi officials, will combat “the illicit trade of alcohol.”.
Since 1952, when one of King Abdulaziz’s sons shot and killed a British envoy while intoxicated, Prohibition has been in effect.
The new store, as per a document obtained by the AFP and Reuters news agencies, will be situated west of the city center in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter.
AFP was able to view the paper, which indicates that these will not be especially strict.
A maximum of 240 “points” of alcohol will be allowed per month for patrons. A liter of wine will be worth three points, a liter of beer one point, and a liter of spirits six points.
Furthermore, there are no hints that the target market will be expanded to include “ordinary” foreign visitors to the country who do not have diplomatic status and who are not permitted to possess alcohol.
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