Saudi Arabia’s First Liquor Shop: Will It Diminish Islamic Identity?

This will be the first time in 70 years that alcohol will be sold in Saudi Arabia. The customers of this liquor shop in Riyadh will be limited diplomatic staff.

These diplomatic staff have been importing sealed official packages for years. It is called a diplomatic pouch.

Saudi officials say that this shop will stop the illegal trade of liquor. Alcohol has been banned in Saudi Arabia since 1952 when King Abdul Aziz’s son shot and killed a British diplomat while under the influence of alcohol.

According to the documents seen by news agencies AFP and Reuters, this new liquor store will be in the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh.

What are the scales?

• Officials familiar with the plans to sell liquor told Reuters the store could open within a few weeks.
• However, there are some limitations regarding the shop-
• Diplomats seeking liquor will have to first register and then get clearance from the government.
• Liquor stores will not allow anyone under the age of 21 and will be required to dress appropriately at all times.
• Alcohol drinkers cannot order alcohol from anyone else. You can’t order alcohol from your driver
• According to the statement, there will be a monthly limit for purchasing liquor.
• However, according to documents seen by AFP, these rules will not be strict

Is the Crown Prince moving away from Islamic identity?

38-year-old Mohammed bin Salman is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince has been leading the country for the last seven years. Under his leadership, the Crown Prince took many decisions in Saudi Arabia which were praised and it was said that MBS is transforming Saudi Arabia from an Islamic conservative country into a modern country.

In 2016, the Crown Prince unveiled Vision 2030. Many types of reforms were started under this vision. He made Saudi more open. The Crown Prince lifted the ban on cinema and concerts. Even hip-hop artists were invited. Women got the right to drive and liberalism was also shown regarding their dress.

The Crown Prince limited the role of reactionary clerics. Religious police were abolished. Along with this, MBS also explored the possibility of improving relations with Israel. American magazine The Atlantic asked the Saudi Crown Prince in 2022 whether he would modernize Saudi Arabia so much that its Islamic identity would weaken.

In response to this question, the Crown Prince said, “Every country in the world was founded based on different ideas and values. For example, America is built on values like democracy, freedom, and a free economy. People remain united based on these values. But are all democracies good? Are all democracies functioning properly? Certainly not.”

“Our country is built on the foundation of the values and ideas of Islam. It has tribal culture, and Arab culture. Also, there is Saudi culture and beliefs. This is our soul. If we leave it the country will be destroyed. The question for us is how to bring Saudi Arabia on the right path of development and modernization. There are similar questions for America about how to keep democracy, free markets, and freedom on the right track. This question is important because they can go on the wrong path.”

“Therefore, we will not move away from our values because this is our soul. There are holy mosques in Saudi Arabia and no one can remove them. It is our responsibility to ensure that these holy mosques always remain and we want to keep the country on the right path for the Saudi people and for the region. We want to connect things with the rest of the world based on peace and co-existence.”