Can You Drink Alcohol in Morocco?

February 2, 2024
2:41 pm

Can You Drink Alcohol in Morocco?

If you have planned to visit Morocco for your next vacation then, no doubt you have made a wonderful choice. But if you are an alcohol lover and want to enjoy a nice cocktail in Morocco perhaps, that might be a hard task. However, Morocco is an Islamic country and alcohol is forbidden in Islam. Therefore, it is natural to wonder that your vacation is going to be Alcohol-free.

Perhaps, there is no reason to think that Morocco is free of Alcohol and there is no trace of it anywhere. As many travelers are skeptical about the consumption of alcohol in Morocco, here I am with a blog post.

In this article, you will find general facts about alcohol in this sumptuous country. By the end of this article, you will be well-equipped will about what you should expect from Morocco about alcohol consumption and if you can drink Alcohol.

Basic Facts About Alcohol In Morocco

Alcohol does not have any major role in the everyday lives of Moroccans. Moreover, the majority of Moroccans do not drink alcohol. Whereas, you will be offered water, juice or soft drinks with your meal. The interesting part is that you will come across The a Le Menthe. It is the national drink of Morocco which made of green tea, mint, and sugar. This is the most popular drink in Morocco and it does not contain alcohol.

While you are in the medina which is one of the largest cities in Morocco, you will encounter many beverage shops. However, you will soon realize that alcohol is only sold in specific places in the country. This might be a hard call for wine lovers but it is interesting to note that people of Morocco are least bothered about alcohol consumption.

As mentioned earlier the major reason behind alcohol restriction is because Morocco being an Islamic nation. It is prohibited in Quran (the holy book of Muslims). It is stated that drinking alcohol is an act of sinning. Moreover, alcohol drinking is also prohibited due to its connection with gambling. Perhaps, this is why alcohol is banned for Muslims.

The Other Side Of The Coin

Morocco has a different side too. you will now be surprised to know that this nation ranks 35th amid the biggest producers of wine in the world. it is shocking, right? Moreover, the Moroccan state of Meknes produces excellent wine such as the Chateau Roslane. There are many other grapes grown in Morocco and that is only done for wine production.

But the scenario is quite different when it comes to beer. The choices for beer in Morocco is pretty thin. You will find only a dozen choices for satisfying your thirst for beer. However, Casablanca is the only city in Morocco that has the most popular and drinkable beer. Whereas, beer is expensive in Morocco but somewhat cheap beers are available with not so good taste.

You can even find wine in the desert but that is surely out of luck. However, these are homemade wines and can taste little exotic. But a note of caution is that it is better to decline if someone invited you to taste schnapps from their homemade distillery. Bear in mind that, these alcohol drinks aren’t passed through quality check can cause the worst scenario. However, you do not want to fall sick while you are on your itinerary.

Carrying Alcohol to Morocco

Rather than running here and there for your favorite alcoholic drink, it is better to carry one from home. Custom regulation of Morocco allows you to bring one liter of any drink to Morocco. but you cannot carry absinthe and anise based alcoholic drinks.

On the other hand, until today there have been no cases reported, as the airport authorities have checked-in luggage to see the type of alcohol a tourist carries.

Things You Need to Know While Drinking Alcohol In Morocco

You might encounter weird looks from the Moroccans while you drink alcohol as they do not consider it as a good image. According to them, it is a Western drug and it leads to corruption of the soul and body. You should be well aware of this and avoid drinking alcohol in public. Moreover, forget about drinking alcohol during the month of Ramadan.

There is zero tolerance while it comes to drinking and driving. The traffic rules in Morocco are very strict in this aspect. You cannot expect any leniency if you get caught drinking and driving. Don’t do and don’t even think about it.

Lastly, always remember to keep your passport with you while buying alcoholic drinks. Perhaps, you won’t require your passport if you but it from any supermarket or specific shop. But it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Where Can You Find Alcohol in Morocco?

The reason behind alcohol being sold exclusively in only a few parts of the country is due to the mandatory licensing law. Not all shops in Morocco gains this license as it is very expensive to gain. It is assumed to be a for digit sum. Perhaps, small shops and restaurants cannot afford.The places where you can find alcohol are:

Selected Supermarkets

Alcohol is most commonly sold in Marrakech supermarkets such as Carrefour, Label Vie and Champion. On the other hand, Atacadao is a wholesale market where you can find various range of wine and beer.

Restaurant and Bars:

The most common places where you will find alcoholic drinks are restaurants and bars. Alcohol is sold at expensive restaurants. For instance, the Grand Hotel Tazi is one of them. There are other options as well such as Kosybar, Café Arabe and Jemaa el Fna. However, these restaurants are rooftop restaurants and provide the finest view of Marrakech city.

Liquor Stores:

You will even find alcohol in several specialist shops that shut down at 8 pm. However, if you as the taxi drivers they will take you there and if you tip them, they can even get it for you.

You can drink alcohol in Morocco but it is hard than it seems. There are only a few places where you will find it. in the megacities and commercial areas, it is a bit easier to buy and have alcoholic drinks. But while it comes to the countryside, you should think twice and trice before buying it.

Perhaps, if you want to enjoy your itinerary with fine beer and wine then I would suggest that you carry one bottle from your homeland rather than risking yourself in a foreign nation. Otherwise, several exotic drinks in Morocco are worth indulging in.