MARRAKECH & BOOZE

A SMART COMBINATION?!

Although it is forbidden to sell liquor to Muslims in Morocco

You can find it easily in large shopping centres and dedicated retail shops. It is all a bit confusing. While one law prohibits the sale of liquor to Moroccans, another allows the collection of related taxes! In 2019, for example, the government had budgeted 1.5 billion, tax revenues, on the sales of liquor.

Some interesting info.

According to a survey, 30% of Moroccans drink regularly, while 35% of Moroccans consume drink sporadically. The latter category are tourists, who only account for 20% of the total consumption.

Have these figures led to the regulation of alcohol consumption by Moroccans? No, the legislation is unchanged. When an alcohol-related incident occurs, the existing law is applied. If you are apprehended, you can be sentenced, to imprisonment for two months.

Apart from being relatively good consumers in Morocco, we are also the second-largest producer of alcoholic beverages after South Africa. We produce about 800,000 hl of beer and some 400,000 hl of wine.

From a practical point of view, the best thing to do is to take the following points into account.

Where are you allowed to consume liquor?

In public, you can't drink spirits so you can't put yourself on a bench in a park and drink your beer; This is a no go! That means that you are also not allowed to drink liquor on a hotel terrace or a bar, that is not shielded, from the passing public. Many establishments try to solve this problem by fencing off their terraces.

Some hotels and restaurants choose not to offer liquors.

You can check this out in the description before you book. (Usually described as halal)

You will not find any alcohol in 'cafés' either. In many countries, a café is similar to a pub. Here a 'café' is the place where you go for a coffee or tea.

In all other places as most of the restaurants, bars, nightclubs,shicha bars you can find all you want.

However ' these are not takeaways'.The liquor is to be drunk on the premises.

Where to buy your spirits?

The most logical solution is to bring your favourite brand. Pay attention to the customs guidelines.

In case you need some more you can look in the list below.

Supermarkets.

There is the Carrefour chain which has an alcohol department with its cash register and in some cases, a separate entrance.

Champion

You have Atacadou which is actually for retailers but where you can also go as a private person. Here you have a great selection of Alcohol.

The chain Marjane offered liquor for a short period but then decided against it.

Small liquor stores.

Everywhere in the centre, you will find the most famous one, Victoria, which runs several liquor stores in the centre. There is also Atelier du Vin and Nicolas. They are more into wines.

Closing time liquor shopping is 8 pm. However, I recommend you to do the shopping earlier. After working hours the liquor stores, as well as the supermarkets, fill up with local liquor lovers.

Do not forget, liquor stores are closed during religious holidays and Ramadan.

What are the prices in SUPERMARKETS and RETAIL?

The government has approved an increase in prices for 2021. The prices below will have to be adjusted up accordingly within a few months.

BEER

FLAG SPECIAL (pilsner) - remains the best-selling beer in Morocco since

1973. In the shops, 24 cl. bottle of Flag Spéciale cost 12 MAD (around 1,1

euro). It's also available in cans of 25cl,33cl and 50cl.

FLAG PILS is the only Moroccan bear available in 33cl bottle and 33cl cans and

also in the big 50 cl cans. Cost similar to Flag special. The taste is similar to Flag Special.

STORK PREMIERE (Pale Lager, 4.7%) - not for beer lovers -

liked and the cheapest of the other Moroccanbeers from the list. Can be found in the

Cheap local bars.

CASABLANCA BEER (Pale Lager 5%) - created in 1996 for the export market only using the strong Casablanca brand from a similar movie ( recognizable in the design of the ticket). Casablanca has become the most loved beer in Morocco.

Available in 25cl and 33cl bottles and in 33cl can. Price is around 18 MAD (1.6 euros) per 33cl bottle.

The most available international brands are Heineken and Budweiser with prices comparable to Casablanca.

WINE

But also wine lovers can get their money's worth with the locally produced wines. You have a wide choice between 50 MAD and 250 MAD per bottle of wine.

My shortlist.

For a nice dinner, you can buy a bottle (also two) of Tandem red 195 MAD p/bottle or a château Roslane with a price just above 220 MAD p/bottle.

CB initials white, a nice Chardonnay is located around 180 Mad purchasing. You can't do anything wrong with it.

And my absolute favourite is the Volubilia gris around 130 Mad purchase. Perfect for every moment of the day at a reasonable price; keep it nice and fresh in the fridge.

But do you want a weekday wine with which you can do anything at an unbeatable price? Then you have to go with Sahari that you can find between 50MAD and 90 Mad per bottle, depending on whether it is red, white grey or "rosé".

And for those who drink only import, every good restaurant and each wine vendor always have an extensive choice of mainly "French wines" in their cellar.

Are beer and wine expensive in Marrakech?

What is the price of beer and wine in a restaurant/bar in Marrakech?

A beer in a well-placed restaurant or bar in the centre will cost you around 40 mad ( local brands ) equal to the prices in the capitals of Central Europe.

In a trendy rooftop or nightclub, you will pay between 80 and 120 MAD.

Of course in Marrakech you also have those small local bars where the locals to enjoy the taste of a beer, the prices here are between 15 and 20 mad. This last choice is certainly not suitable for everyone, as things can get quite heated here.

A glass of wine is, as described above, also between 40 Mad ( for example Sahari and 200 Mad (Château Rhoslaine). Depending on the brand and the place where you consume it.

When you plan to drink some more glasses, I would recommend you to go for the bottle. Always compare on the menu and calculate that you should get about six glasses from a bottle. The last point Don't be surprised that in a restaurant or bar you pay 3 to 4 times the purchase price of a bottle so don't get upset with it.

Cheers.