Booze ban 'eased for select foreigners'

DIPLOMATS and premium visa-holders in Saudi Arabia said that the conservative kingdom has quietly eased restrictions on purchasing alcohol for select foreign residents.

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While the government has not made any statements regarding the sale of alcohol in recent days, the sources said non-Muslim individuals with so-called premium resident status are now able to buy booze at the country's sole alcohol shop in Riyadh, which was previously reserved for diplomats.

Four people said the rules had changed, including two diplomatic sources and two residents with premium visa status.

"I heard about it from friends who tried it. I went there two days ago and it actually worked," one premium visa-holder said on condition of anonymity.

"It saved me a lot of money rather than buying from the black market. Prices are reasonable and we finally can buy alcohol."

Saudi authorities did not respond to queries by the time the story was published.