Saudi Arabia has opened its first liquor store in over 70 years.
The store is located next to a supermarket in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter and is similar to an upscale duty-free shop at a major international airport. It stocks liquor, wine, and only two types of beer for now.
Saudi Arabia has opened its first liquor store in over 70 years, a diplomat reported Wednesday. The store is located next to a supermarket in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter and is similar to an upscale duty-free shop at a major international airport. It stocks liquor, wine, and only two types of beer for now. Workers ask customers for their diplomatic identifications and place mobile phones inside pouches while shopping. The store coincides with new rules governing alcohol sales to diplomats in the kingdom that aim to curb uncontrolled importing of special goods and liquors within diplomatic consignments.
A liquor store has opened in Saudi Arabia for the first time in over 70 years.
The store is located next to a supermarket in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter and is similar to an upscale duty-free shop at a major international airport.
It stocks liquor, wine, and only two types of beer for now. Workers ask customers for their diplomatic identifications and place mobile phones inside pouches while shopping.
The store coincides with new rules governing alcohol sales to diplomats in the kingdom that aim to curb uncontrolled importing of special goods and liquors within diplomatic consignments.
Drinking alcohol is considered haram, or forbidden, in Islam. Saudi Arabia remains one of the few nations in the world with a ban on alcohol alongside its neighbor Kuwait and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.
Accuracy
Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has opened movie theaters, allowed women to drive and hosted major music festivals. However political speech and dissent remains strictly criminalized potentially at death penalty.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the liquor store is open to non-Muslim diplomats only but then mentions that Prince Mohammed bin Salman aims to make Saudi Arabia a tourism and business destination as part of ambitious plans to slowly wean its economy away from crude oil. This implies that the store will eventually be open to everyone, which contradicts the initial statement. Secondly, it states that drinking alcohol is haram in Islam but then mentions that diplomats have been able to import liquor through a specialty service into the kingdom for consumption on diplomatic grounds. This creates a false impression of legality and normalcy around alcohol consumption in Saudi Arabia when it is still illegal for most people. Lastly, the article states that those arrested and convicted for consuming alcohol can face long jail sentences, heavy fines, public floggings and deportation but fails to mention that these punishments are not enforced consistently or fairly.
The article states that drinking alcohol is haram in Islam but then mentions that diplomats have been able to import liquor through a specialty service into the kingdom for consumption on diplomatic grounds. This creates a false impression of legality and normalcy around alcohol consumption in Saudi Arabia when it is still illegal for most people.
The liquor store is open to non-Muslim diplomats only but then mentions that Prince Mohammed bin Salman aims to make Saudi Arabia a tourism and business destination as part of ambitious plans to slowly wean its economy away from crude oil. This implies that the store will eventually be open to everyone, which contradicts the initial statement.
The article states that those arrested and convicted for consuming alcohol can face long jail sentences, heavy fines, public floggings and deportation but fails to mention that these punishments are not enforced consistently or fairly.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the idea that Saudi Arabia's decision to open a liquor store for non-Muslim diplomats is a positive step towards modernization and economic diversification. The author uses language such as 'socially liberalizing', 'assertive Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aims to make the kingdom a tourism and business destination', and 'curb the uncontrolled importing of these special goods' that deifies Saudi Arabia's actions, making them seem like they are doing something good. The author also uses language such as 'challenges remain both from the prince’s international reputation after the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi and internally with the conservative Islamic mores that have governed its sandy expanses for decades' to make it seem like Saudi Arabia is doing something positive by opening this store, when in reality they are just trying to improve their economy. The author also uses language such as 'The diplomat walked through the store Wednesday, describing it as similar to an upscale duty free shop at a major international airport.' which makes the liquor store seem like a normal and acceptable place.
assertive Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman aims to make the kingdom a tourism and business destination
curb the uncontrolled importing of these special goods
Saudi Arabia will open its first alcohol store for non-Muslim diplomats
The store is located in Riyadh, the Saudi capital
Customers must register via an app and get permission from the Foreign Ministry to purchase alcohol
This move comes as Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman seeks to liberalize the image of the country
Accuracy
The store is located next to a supermarket in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter and is similar to an upscale duty-free shop at a major international airport.
It stocks liquor, wine, and only two types of beer for now. Workers ask customers for their diplomatic identifications and place mobile phones inside pouches while shopping.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Saudi Arabia will open its first store selling alcohol to non-Muslim diplomats only. However, it's unclear whether this store will also cater to non-Muslim expatriates or if it's just for diplomats. Secondly, the article states that drinking is still illegal for Saudi citizens but fails to mention that there are already a black market and authorities often turn a blind eye to home brewing and alcohol consumption in compounds where many foreigners live. Lastly, the author claims that Crown Prince Mohammed is trying to attract foreign tourism and billions in investment as he pivots the kingdom away from its reliance on fossil fuels as part of his Vision 2030 plan. However, this statement is misleading because it implies that Saudi Arabia's current laws are not a hindrance to attracting tourists or investors when in fact they are one of the main reasons why foreigners do not visit the country.
The store will serve non-Muslim diplomats
It’ll be in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, but it’s unclear whether it'll also cater to non-Muslim expatriates.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Saudi Arabia's ruler is seeking to liberalize the image of the country and attract foreign tourism. However, this statement does not provide any evidence or sources for these claims.
>Saudi Arabia harshly punishes drinking <br> >However, there’s a black market, and authorities often turn a blind eye to home brewing and alcohol consumption in the compounds where many foreigners live.
Bias
(75%)
The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that depicts the Saudi government as being extreme or unreasonable in its laws regarding alcohol consumption for Muslim citizens while portraying Crown Prince Mohammed's efforts to liberalize the country positively.
Crown Prince Mohammed is trying to attract foreign tourism and billions in investment as he pivots the kingdom away from its reliance on fossil fuels as part of his Vision 2030 plan.
>Saudi Arabia harshly punishes drinking <br> >However, there’s a black market, and authorities often turn a blind eye to home brewing and alcohol consumption in the compounds where many foreigners live.
Saudi Arabia will open a shop in Riyadh selling alcohol to a select band of non-Muslim expats, the first to open in more than 70 years.
Alcohol consumption or possession penalties include fines, jail time, public flogging and deportation for unauthorised foreigners.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Saudi Arabia will open a shop selling alcohol to non-Muslim expats for the first time in over 70 years. However, this statement is misleading as it implies that there has never been any sale of alcohol before when in fact there have been instances where diplomatic staff were allowed to import and consume alcohol within certain limits.
The article states that drinkers will be limited to 240 'points' per month. This is a deceptive way of presenting the limitations as it does not specify what each point represents or how many litres of alcohol can be purchased with them.
The article claims that Saudi Arabia will open a shop selling alcohol for the first time in over 70 years. However, this statement is misleading as it implies that there has never been any sale of alcohol before when in fact there have been instances where diplomatic staff were allowed to import and consume alcohol within certain limits.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the new shop will counter 'the illicit trade of alcohol'. However, this statement is not supported by any evidence or data. Additionally, the author quotes a source who states that patrons will be limited to 240 'points' of alcohol per month, but does not provide any context for what these points represent or how they are calculated. This creates confusion and makes it difficult to understand the limitations on alcohol consumption. The article also contains an example of inflammatory rhetoric when it states that penalties for consuming or possessing alcohol can include fines, jail time, public flogging and deportation for unauthorised foreigners.
The new shop will counter 'the illicit trade of alcohol'.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author of the article has a conflict of interest on several topics related to Saudi Arabia. The author is based in Riyadh and reports for BBC News World Middle East, which may have financial ties or professional affiliations with diplomatic staff who are mentioned in the article. Additionally, the topic of alcohol shops being allowed in Saudi Arabia could be seen as a controversial one that would require careful consideration to avoid bias.
The author is based in Riyadh and reports for BBC News World Middle East.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of alcohol shops in Saudi Arabia as they are reporting for BBC News which is an international news organization and may have financial ties to countries that sell or prohibit alcohol. Additionally, the article mentions diplomatic staff which could indicate personal relationships with individuals who hold positions within governments where there may be conflicting interests.
The author reports on Saudi Arabia's first alcohol shop in more than 70 years.
