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The Saudi government on Wednesday confirmed reports in state-controlled media that it was imposing new restrictions on alcohol imports within diplomatic consignments.<\/p>\n
The kingdom\u2019s Centre of International Communication (CIC) said the new regulations were being introduced to counter the illicit trade of alcohol goods and products received by diplomatic missions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis new process will continue to grant and ensure that all diplomats of non-Muslim embassies have access to these products in specified quotas,\u201d the CIC said in a statement to Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n The statement further said that the new framework respected international diplomatic conventions.<\/p>\n \u201cThe new process will focus on allocating specific quantities of alcohol goods when entering the kingdom to put an end to the previous unregulated process that caused an uncontrolled exchange of such goods in the kingdom,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n The statement indicated that not much would change immediately for the vast majority of Saudi Arabia\u2019s 32 million people, who have few ways to imbibe unless they are willing to travel abroad.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a source familiar with plans and documents told Reuters<\/em> that Saudi Arabia was preparing to open its first alcohol store in the capital Riyadh which would serve exclusively non-Muslim diplomats.<\/p>\n Customers will have to register via a mobile app, get a clearance code from the foreign ministry, and respect monthly quotas with their purchases, said the document, which was seen by Reuters<\/em>.<\/p>\n The document added that the new store is located in Riyadh\u2019s Diplomatic Quarter, a neighbourhood where embassies and diplomats reside, and will be \u201cstrictly restricted\u201d to non-Muslims.<\/p>\n Prohibition has been the law of the land in Saudi Arabia since 1952, shortly after one of King Abdulaziz\u2019s sons got drunk and, in a rage, shot dead a British diplomat.<\/p>\n Under Saudi law, penalties for consumption or possession of alcohol can include fines, jail time, public flogging and deportation for foreigners.<\/p>\n Sensitive subject<\/h2>\n