Analysis: Why US experiment with prohibition holds a cautionary tale for Saudi Arabia

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A New York restaurant makes its view on alcohol clear during the 1930s prohibition era, which holds a cautionary tale for Saudi Arabia. (Getty Images)
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Updated 31 March 2022
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Analysis: Why US experiment with prohibition holds a cautionary tale for Saudi Arabia

  • Underground alcohol scene in the Kingdom comes with its own health and social challenges
  • Thorny issue should become part of the conversation as Kingdom’s status quo compared to 1920’s America

RIYADH: On Jan. 6, a Saudi columnist for the Jeddah-based newspaper Okaz turned his attention to one of the Kingdom's most pressing issues, but one that is rarely talked about — alcohol.

It was a bold article, given that the topic is rarely discussed on public platforms.

But at its heart was a stark message with wide-ranging social, religious and public health implications: There are major problems with the way alcohol has been dealt with that must be discussed.

“I do not remember that the Saudi media raised the issue of drinking alcohol, and I do not remember that a Saudi newspaper dared to raise the issue of alcohol abuse in the Kingdom despite the spread of alcohol poisoning as a result of drinking locally manufactured alcohol,” Abdullah bin Bakheet wrote.

“We deal with this issue in an ostrich manner.”




The Okaz column exploring the issue earlier this year. (AN Photo)

He continued: “It is as if those who drink alcohol are not our sons and brothers, and we do not realize that the victims of this type of alcohol are from the middle and poor classes, while the rich people who love (alcohol) have enriched with their money the gangs that smuggle good wine and sell it inside the country.”

Although it is rarely spoken about or covered in local media, it is no secret that there is a burgeoning underground alcohol scene in Saudi Arabia, complete with all the health and social issues that it brings.

Saudi Arabia has a youthful population. A recent review of research on the subject of substance abuse in the Kingdom noted that, of the 7 to 8 percent of all Saudis who reported using substances including alcohol, amphetamines and heroin, 70 percent were aged between 12 and 22.

The authors of the paper, “Substance use disorders in Saudi Arabia: a scoping review,” published in the journal “Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy” in June 2020, warned that Saudi Arabia’s “demographic distribution is heavily tilted toward youth (around 15% of the total population is between 15 and 24 years old) and youth are most affected by substance use.”

The authors, from the College of Medicine at Sulaiman Al-Rajhi University in Bukairyah, Al-Qassim, concluded that “a comprehensive review on SUD (Substance use disorders) research in Saudi Arabia is timely and can be the starting point for understanding this problem for both the policymakers and local researchers.”

In Saudi Arabia today, it is an open secret that young people — nationals and expats alike — regularly attend alcohol-fueled underground parties throughout the Kingdom. These range from groups of friends meeting and drinking in compounds, to private raves organized in secret locations disclosed to trusted invited guests by message only on the day itself.

Faced with upholding the prohibition on alcohol even as it opens up to the wider world, Saudi Arabia is in danger of becoming a victim of the law of unintended consequences, with parallels to be drawn with America’s flirtation with an alcohol ban in the early 20th century.




An illegal alcohol shipment seized by Saudi Customs. (SPA)

Prohibition, and the 18th amendment to the U.S. Constitution that framed it, was the product of sustained pressure from temperance campaigners and religious revivalists. It was, said President Herbert Hoover at the time, a “great social and economic experiment, noble in motive and far-reaching in purpose.”

But it was an experiment that failed.

Prohibition began in 1920 but was ended after 13 disastrous years. Noble it may have been, but its first effect was to bankrupt thousands of businesses and destroy the jobs of the countless people they employed.

The second consequence was the overnight creation of a new black market and hugely profitable revenue stream for organized crime. Corruption among police officers and agents of the Bureau of Prohibition was rife.

Illegal stills, speakeasies and bootleggers sprang up everywhere, and with deadly effect: During prohibition an average of a thousand people died every year from alcohol poisoning.

But the biggest shock of all was felt by the government itself, which suddenly lost a hugely significant source of taxes — in the case of New York, almost 75 percent of all revenue — causing an estimated tax shortfall for the federal government of over $11 billion.

The trigger for the column in Okaz was reaction on social media to a television interview with Dr. Saad Al-Soyan, a veteran Saudi sociologist and anthropologist who studied in America and Germany before returning to the Kingdom in 2003 to work as a professor at King Saud University.

During the interview, which touched on many serious issues, Al-Soyan happened to mention in passing the “little bottles” of alcohol found in U.S. supermarkets that, as Bakheet noted in his column, many of his contemporaries and subsequent generations of young Saudis had encountered while studying abroad.

Critics, wrote Bakheet, had extracted that short clip from the lengthy interview and circulated it disapprovingly on social media.

Bakheet, a novelist whose 2010 work “Al-Atayef Street” was long-listed for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, said the reality was that Al-Soyan and many others who, like him, had studied abroad, had returned to their homeland to teach tens of thousands of Saudis.In so doing they had fulfilled the aim of the King Abdullah Scholarship Program to create a knowledge-based society equipped to compete economically and academically on the world stage.

Bakheet, who has 39,000 followers on Twitter, rebuked the religious conservatives who had so bitterly opposed the scholarship program, which after its introduction in 2005 saw the number of Saudi students studying abroad increase dramatically.

The “war on scholarships,” waged on the basis that while in Europe or the U.S. young Saudis would be tempted to try alcohol, had come close to defeating the scheme and almost “took us back 800 years,” he wrote.

If Professor Al-Soyan and all the other Saudis who had ever studied abroad had been denied the opportunity for fear of exposing them to the vice of alcohol, asked Bakheet, “would we have the giant Saudi banks, would we have the advanced hospitals, would we be able to run a giant company like Aramco, would we have established SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corp.) and Almarai?”

Yes, he acknowledged: “Everyone who participated in building this renaissance was tempted by the temptations of “Queirerat Al-Wanasah.” Some of them went through the experience and some of them avoided it.

“But they all returned and contributed to building their country.”

Another consequence of the taboo on even talking about alcohol is the impact on research into the scale and nature of abuse in the Kingdom, compromising the ability of the authorities to deal with it and the healthcare problems it is causing — problems that devastate families and cost the state a small fortune in medical and rehabilitative services.

The researchers at Sulaiman Al-Rajhi University, writing in the journal Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy in June 2020, carried out a review of all published literature on the subject of substance use disorders in Saudi Arabia, including alcoholism, and found there was a woeful lack of knowledge on the subject.

Of the 23 papers on the subject they were able to find in the literature, all were “outdated, weak in methodology, and poor in quality.” All had drawn their samples from hospitals in the western, central and eastern regions, only two included women, and the most recent had been published in 2013. The problem of substance abuse had most certainly worsened in the decade or more since the most recent research had been carried out.

Today, “the absolute number of people who have a substance use problem is likely high in Saudi Arabia because its demographic distribution is heavily tilted toward youth and youth are most affected by substance use.”

Given “the changing nature of Saudi society, which has traditionally been deeply religiously conservative, sustained by the Islamic principles of balance, restraint, and modesty,” more research into the problems of alcohol and drug abuse is urgently needed.

Of course, there are those who reject these findings and argue that alcohol has always been consumed in secret in the Kingdom.

“This has nothing to do with the age of the drinker. There are a lot of those who consume whiskey and wine in their 60s and 70s and have been doing so for decades,” a Saudi citizen told Arab News on the condition of anonymity.

He added: “Those who drink can buy from the black market, at a ridiculously hiked price. Those who can’t afford known brands end up buying locally made home brew, which can be poisonous and have all sorts of health hazards.”

There is another factor to be considered in the alcohol discussion.

Opening up to tourists and expats is a key component of the Vision 2030 blueprint for diversifying Saudi Arabia’s economy away from reliance on fossil fuels. To make its way successfully in a post-oil world, while preserving its unique cultural identity, the Kingdom is aligning itself more closely with global social norms as it increasingly opens its doors to the outside world.

Creating exciting new megaprojects, such as NEOM and Diriyah Gate, and staging globally appealing sporting and cultural events, the Kingdom is spotlighting its cultural and historical appeal as a unique destination and will see millions of visitors, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, pouring in.

But is the availability of alcohol a must to attract the 100 million visits it wants to achieve by 2030?

Well, not according to a recent Arab News interview with Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb. When asked whether alcohol would be permitted in the Kingdom given its popularity among tourists, he pointed to extensive research showing that “40 to 50 percent of travelers would travel to destinations that do not offer alcohol.”

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“We have a lot to offer other than alcohol. There is a lot to improve, be it in hospitality, culture, food and luxury, and therefore we will be competing on other things that tourists are traveling for,” he said.

“I believe you know our destinations at mainly the Red Sea will be positioned among the best destinations globally by 2030 and people will definitely experience them, even if we don’t offer alcohol.”

At the very least, as Bakheet concluded in his Okaz article, the thorny issue of alcohol can no longer be pushed under the carpet; it must become part of the conversation as Saudi Arabia embraces the brave new world.

Right now, he wrote, the alcohol business in Saudi Arabia was in the hands of gangs — smuggling gangs, distribution gangs, and money-laundering gangs, comprising a subculture whose combined impact is to threaten national security.

“It is time for us to start discussing the ignored issues in order to free ourselves from the phobia that the ‘awakening’ advocates planted in us,” he wrote.

“The time has come when the security services, health services, and financial authorities cooperate to estimate the great losses from smuggling and the great damage caused by adulterated alcohol that is made locally. In addition, huge sums of money are spent abroad from the pockets of those seeking this kind of fun.

“We need to start discussing the important issues with outside-the-‘awakening’-box thinking.”

That thinking should begin, Bakheet said, with all officials in relevant sectors asking themselves a challenging question: “Does the law banning the entry of alcohol into the country actually prevent the entry of alcohol and stop its consumption?

“Asking this question and answering it without ideological quibbles will open a door for us that has been closed for a long time, and free our minds that have been closed to scientific, practical and economic thinking.”

* Jonathan Gornall of Arab News Research & Studies Unit contributed to this report.


Saudi fashion event highlights retail trends, youth culture, and digital innovation

Updated 04 May 2025
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Saudi fashion event highlights retail trends, youth culture, and digital innovation

  • Speakers noted that the increase in entertainment activities such as concerts and dining in the Kingdom in recent years has led to higher demand for fashion products because people are looking for ways to express themselves

RIYADH: A Riyadh fashion seminar on Sunday brought together industry leaders and creatives to explore the future of Saudi Arabia’s fashion economy.

Hosted by Chalhoub Group at Lakum Art Space, the event featured keynote presentations, panel discussions, and displays by 10 emerging Saudi designers from The Fashion Lab Cohort 2.

Rafi Dikranian and Mohammed Bajbaa speak on “From Drops to Drives: Connecting with Communities,” exploring how culture, streetwear, and grassroots branding are reshaping consumer engagement. (AN photo by Waad Hussain)

The agenda focused on three main themes: the evolution of fashion retail in the Kingdom; the role of cultural identity in building brands; and the rising importance of digital fashion and collaboration.

An awards ceremony honored the standout talents of this year’s cohort: APOA, Awaken, Bucketbox, Mona Al-Shebil, Noble & Fresh, Nora Al-Shaikh, Rebirth, Samar Nasraldin, The Untitled Project and USCITA.

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Hosted by Chalhoub Group at Lakum Art Space, the event featured keynote presentations, panel discussions, and displays by 10 emerging Saudi designers from The Fashion Lab Cohort 2.

One discussion explored consumer behavior in Saudi Arabia, revealing that the local market continues to grow despite global slowdowns.

Saudi brands that blend cultural heritage with bold innovation, as featured in the latest Fashion Lab showcase. (AN photo by Waad Hussain)

Speakers noted that the increase in entertainment activities such as concerts and dining in the Kingdom in recent years has led to higher demand for fashion products because people are looking for ways to express themselves.

Retail experiences — both physical and digital — were emphasized as key to engaging Saudi consumers.

Michael Chalhoub, CEO of Chalhoub Group, delivers the opening keynote at The Fashion Seminar 2025, highlighting the importance of creativity and cross-sector collaboration in shaping the future of Saudi fashion. (AN photo by Waad Hussain)

Youth culture, streetwear and sports are shaping brand narratives, a panel heard. Speakers discussed how fashion is being used as a tool for cultural storytelling, with an emphasis on grassroots creativity and community building.

Another topic highlighted the power of collaboration between local and international brands. Panelists discussed the importance of long-term partnerships, manufacturing localization, and mentorship to bridge gaps in knowledge and infrastructure.

Speakers also addressed the future of digital fashion, including virtual design, retail innovation, and new marketing strategies targeting Gen Z.

Saudi Arabia’s growing role in shaping the regional and global fashion economy was a prominent theme of the discussions.

 

 


First Saudi-Maldives forum to tackle transparency, governance in tourism

Updated 04 May 2025
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First Saudi-Maldives forum to tackle transparency, governance in tourism

  • Discussions aim to support sustainable development, promote safe tourism environment

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia — in partnership with the Maldives — is organizing the tourism sector’s inaugural Saudi-Maldives International Forum on Integrity, which is set to take place in the Maldives from May 6 to 7.

The forum is jointly organized by Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, and the Maldives’ Anti-Corruption Commission, in cooperation with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

It will cover key topics such as enhancing transparency and governance in the tourism sector, combating corruption, and boosting international partnerships and expertise exchange among member states and regional and international organizations.

The discussions aim to support sustainable development and promote a trustworthy and safe tourism environment, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The forum is expected to attract international participation from more than 40 countries and 10 regional and international organizations.

Attendees will include ministers, heads, and representatives of anti-corruption bodies from OIC member states, as well as key international organizations like the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Interpol, the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities, and the UN Development Programme. Local and international experts will also take part.

Organizing the forum reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global efforts promoting transparency and accountability in tourism, according to the SPA.

The event highlights Saudi Arabia’s recognition of tourism as a key driver of sustainable development, in line with Vision 2030. It aims to build a thriving tourism sector, diversify national income sources, and stimulate economic growth.

 


Saudi deputy minister receives Pakistan’s ambassador

Waleed Elkhereiji (R) holds talks with Ahmed Farooq in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Updated 04 May 2025
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Saudi deputy minister receives Pakistan’s ambassador

  • They discussed bilateral relations as well as prominent developments in regional and international arenas

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji received Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Ahmed Farooq in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations as well as prominent developments in regional and international arenas, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received EU Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Christophe Varno in Riyadh.

 


Iraqi president invites King Salman to upcoming Arab summits in Baghdad

Updated 04 May 2025
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Iraqi president invites King Salman to upcoming Arab summits in Baghdad

  • Invitation was delivered to Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan by Iraqi counterpart

RIYADH: King Salman received an official invitation from Iraqi President Abdullatif Jamal Rashid on Sunday to attend the 34th regular session of the Arab League Council at the summit level, as well as the fifth Arab Economic and Social Development Summit, both set to be hosted by Iraq later this month.

The invitation was delivered to Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan during a meeting in Riyadh with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Mohammed Hussein, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The two officials discussed ties between the two countries and reviewed key regional and international developments.

The meeting was also attended by Saud Al-Sati, Undersecretary of the Ministry for Political Affairs.


Riyadh conference discusses future of occupational health

Event was inaugurated by Ahmed Al-Rajhi, minister of human resources and social development.
Updated 04 May 2025
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Riyadh conference discusses future of occupational health

  • Minister launches initiatives to enhance Kingdom’s workplace safety

RIYADH: The seventh Global Occupational Safety and Health Conference opened in Riyadh on Sunday under the theme “The Future of Occupational Safety and Health.”

The three-day event was inaugurated by Ahmed Al-Rajhi, minister of human resources and social development and chairman of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.

Al-Rajhi launched initiatives to enhance Saudi Arabia’s occupational safety and health system, including the establishment of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Compliance and Excellence Incentives Program, and the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Guide.

Al-Rajhi said that work-related deaths in Saudi Arabia have dropped to less than one per 100,000 workers since the council’s establishment.

Meanwhile, the number of locals in occupational safety and health roles has risen by 130 percent, reaching more than 29,000 by the end of 2024, compared with 2022.

Al-Rajhi also highlighted improvements in safety compliance and automation. “The compliance rate with safety standards reached 72 percent by the end of 2024, and the automation of safety procedures exceeded 62 percent, up from 30 percent in 2020.”

The conference draws high-ranking officials, experts and specialists from Saudi Arabia and worldwide to discuss the future of occupational safety and health, as well as the challenges and opportunities in global labor markets.

It covers six key themes: workplace sustainability; digitization and technology in occupational safety; the economics of safety; the future of research and innovation; emerging challenges; and human behavior and safety culture.

This focus reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to improving work environments and achieving professional standards in line with global best practices, a key goal of Saudi Vision 2030.

The event highlights national efforts, displays modern technical trends, supports specialized research, and promotes the Kingdom’s legislative framework to international standards, contributing to the success of major national projects.

Al-Rajhi referred to international reports on workplace challenges. “International reports highlight the serious challenges facing work environments globally. Approximately 3 million worker deaths are recorded each year due to accidents and occupational diseases.”

He said about “395 million non-fatal work injuries occur annually. Statistics show 23 million injuries and 19,000 deaths from heat stress, and 15 percent of workers globally suffer from mental disorders related to stressful work environments.”

The conference program includes specialized scientific sessions, 60 workshops, 20 dialogue sessions, and the Global Occupational Safety and Health Hackathon, where 30 innovative projects are being presented.

An accompanying exhibition features local and international organizations, with several significant agreements expected and new initiatives to advance the Kingdom’s occupational safety system.

The ministry also emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to securing a healthy work environment and ensuring worker safety, which enhances labor market competitiveness and overall quality of life.

Al-Rajhi said: “In line with Vision 2030, we aim to make work environments safer, higher quality, and more attractive. This supports employee well-being, boosts labor market competitiveness, and fosters a culture of safety and sustainability. Therefore, the Kingdom established the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health.”

The General Organization for Social Insurance launched a directory for occupational safety and health standards at the conference, serving as a unified reference for specialists, establishments, and relevant entities in the Kingdom.

This initiative aims to enhance safety and health standards while protecting workers from occupational hazards, as part of its broader strategy.

Based on international best practices, the directory provides clear preventive standards to help reduce injuries and hazards.

It covers more than 4,500 standards in six main sectors: public industries; construction; agriculture; maritime activities; transport; and mining. It also classifies more than 70 sectors based on the national directory of economic activities.