Timothy Birdnow

Booze in Saudi Arabia? Yes, it's really coming!

Saudi Arabia to lift booze ban at 600 tourist locations by 2026 in bid to lure in holidaymakers ahead of World Cup

The trouble with the whole Middle East is that you can't get a good snort anywhere. Islam officially restricts alcohol, and without alcohol most tourists won't come. The region could be huge - certainly it's as dry and miserable in Las Vegas, and Vegas doesn't have nice seaside areas. But Vegas has booze and dancers and gambling, while Saudi Arabia has - camel burgers and veiled women and Jihadis.

Even National Lampoon couldn't find a way to make an interesting Vacation movie set there.

So this is probably a smart move, although it will no doubt infuriate traditionalists in Islam and lead some of them to question the House of Saud's control over the holiest sites in Islam.

Oh well; they can suck down a few and that will calm their anxiety nicely.

Posted by: Timothy Birdnow at 09:18 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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