Saudi Arabia's Historic Move: Opening First Alcohol Store in Over 70 Years to Tackle Booze Smuggling

Saudi Arabia has opened its first alcohol store in Riyadh's diplomatic quarter, a significant move in the conservative Muslim kingdom where alcohol has been banned since 1952. The store, accessible to non-Muslim diplomats, aims to tackle the longstanding problem of booze smuggling, which has been prevalent through diplomatic channels and the black market. The new shop comes with strict rules and a tracked purchasing system to counter the illicit trade of alcohol goods. While the country has seen liberalizing reforms under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 campaign, the legalization of drinking outside of diplomatic venues is expected to be limited to hotels or special economic zones and kept off-limits to Muslims.