Saudi Arabia is set to open the country’s first liquor store, catering exclusively to diplomats, breaking with decades of strict alcohol prohibition in the kingdom and creating a pathway for greater access to alcohol for non-Muslims in the near future, Reuters reports.
The news, which was announced in an Arab News article two days ago, got little attention. But the Reuters report confirms what many saw as a small opening toward alcohol access in the Kingdom. Per the Reuters report, the move is a milestone in the kingdom’s efforts, led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to open the ultra-conservative Muslim country for tourism and business as drinking alcohol is forbidden in Islam.
