Photography is strictly prohibited in the store, and mobile phones must be kept in secure pouches to prevent their use while in the venue.

Saudi Arabia has opened its first alcohol store in the diplomatic quarter of its capital Riyadh, two sources told CNBC.

The news, which has not been officially confirmed by the Saudi government, marks a major breakthrough for the highly conservative Muslim theocracy where alcohol has been banned since 1952.

According to a list of store rules seen by CNBC, the venue is only accessible to non-Muslim diplomats, and authorization must be validated through an app called Diplo.

No guests or people under the age of 21 are allowed to accompany authorized visitors to the store, photography is strictly prohibited and mobile phones need to be kept in secure “mobile pouches” so as not to be used while in the store. Purchases are also subject to a monthly quota system per registered individual.

  • deafboy@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2515·
    10 months ago

    Building a database of non-muslim diplomats does not seem like a breakthrough. I can’t help myself but smell nazi everywhere I look lately.

    • Deceptichum@kbin.social
      29·
      10 months ago

      You do know that diplomats are not people from the land of Diplomia right?

      Like these are foreign government employees residing in your country, who have special government permission to work there in the first place.

      It’s not an ethnic group to terrorise, you don’t want them there you say “hey you’re revoked gtfo”.

      • SkyNTPEnglish
        23·
        10 months ago

        Also, diplomats are already registered on a list. So this is all moot.

        I’m guessing, lack of alcohol access really narrows the list of diplomats who actually want to work there. Concessions like this goes a long way to improving the talent pool of diplomats working there. It’s just good foreign relations, and what country doesn’t want that?

        • Deceptichum@kbin.social
          71·
          10 months ago

          Uh for a controlled substance? Yes it is.

          I can’t buy weed in my country without it being put through a database. The only difference here is that the people allowed to buy the substance aren’t the citizens of the country.

          • Squizzy@lemmy.worldEnglish
            21·
            10 months ago

            Do you have an allotment assigned to you and recorded against your name? Also just because it happens to you doesn’t mean it is right either.

            • Deceptichum@kbin.social
              5·
              10 months ago

              Yes, and yes. I think it was like 100g in 3 months or something, I hit it once but for some reason I can’t remember exactly how much it was.

              It’s not right, but it’s a slight step up from zero at all ever.

    • Ilovethebomb@lemm.eeEnglish
      12·
      10 months ago

      Pretty sure any nation knows how many diplomats are in their country, take off the tinfoil hat.