What you need to know about drinking in Morocco

Morocco is a beautiful and culturally rich country located in North Africa and it’s one of the most popular destinations for tourists from around the world. However, one question that visitors often wonder: what about drinking in Morocco? Can you drink alcohol in Morocco?

With its predominantly Muslim population and strict religous laws, consumption of alcohol in Morocco is different from what many travelers may be accustomed to. Can you buy alcohol in Morocco or do you need to bring some with you?

We’ll explore all the rules surrounding Morocco drinking laws and alcohol consumption in Morocco and what you should be aware of when traveling there.

Let’s explore how you can responsibly drink in Morocco and what you need to be aware of.

Islam and Alcohol Consumption

With its predominantly Muslim population and strict religious laws, the availability and consumption of alcohol in Morocco are much different from what many travelers may be accustomed to. While this article is mostly specific about alcohol consumption in Morocco, these rules and laws will also apply to many other Muslim countries.

In Islam, the consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited according to Islamic law which is outlined in the Quran. The Prophet Muhammad emphasized the harmful effects of alcohol and he condemned its consumption.

Muslims are required to submit to the commands of Allah as outlined in the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhommad. Avoiding alcohol is considered an act of obedience and submission to God’s will.

There are several verses in the Quran that explicitly prohibit intoxicants labeling them as the handiwork of Satan. Based on those teachings, Muslims are expected to abstain from all forms of alcohol, including wine, beer, and liquor. Not only are they supposed to abstain from drinking alcohol, they are also not allowed to be involved in its production, sale, or promotion.

What is the legal drinking age in Morocco?

In Morocco, the legal drinking age is 18 years old. This isn’t just for Moroccans, this is for everyone, including tourists. That means you must be at least 18 years old to purchase and/or consume alcoholic beverages in Morocco.

The good news is that if you’re under the age of 18 then you’re likely not going to be traveling to Morocco by yourself so you won’t get to “test out” that law. 🙂

do Muslims not drink any alcohol?

While the Islamic faith may strictly prohibit drinking alcohol, it’s important to recognize that individuals still have the choice as to whether or not they actually adhere to those religious teachings. It’s no different than asking the question “do all Christians follow the 10 Commandments”? I think we know the answer to that one!

There’s a lot of factors that influence behavior including cultural practices, personal beliefs, community and cultural norms, and religious education. Despite variations in individual behavior, prohibition of alcohol consumption is a fundamental tenet of Islam and devout Muslims do their best to adhere to that prohibition.

Can you buy alcohol in Morocco?

Even though Morocco is predominantly a Muslim country and their religious teachings say to abstain from drinking alcohol, YES you can buy alcohol in Morocco. It’s not served everywhere and you might have to look really really hard for it but it is available.

Where can you buy alcohol in Morocco?

You won’t find alcohol flowing freely in public places like Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakech but you can find it. You just have to know where to look!

Hotels

Some hotels, but not every single hotel, will have alcohol available to buy. Chances are good that you will be able to find it at your hotel or riad. Most larger hotels have bars and restaurants that serve beer and wine and some will have liquor.

Wine Tours

Beer and wine are easier to find in Morocco than whiskey or vodka. In fact, there are even vineyards in Morocco! Morocco has a small wine industry and production centers around specific regions of Morocco such as Meknes and Essaouira.

The country produces red, white, and rosé. The majority of wine produced in Morocco is exported but just the fact that they have it shows you that not everyone necessarily adheres to strict Islamic teachings. 😉

You can even go on a Moroccan Wine tasting tour in the desert (camel rides included) and to the Atlas Mountains from Marrakech. If you’re on the other side of the country in Fes, you can take a full day winery and wine tasting tour to a Moroccan Vineyard that includes lunch.

Restaurants

You won’t find alcohol in all restaurants in Morocco but you might get lucky. Usually you can find beer and wine in the nicer establishments but not at small cafés. Again, it’s hit and miss and it just depends on the restaurant.

Liquor Stores

Ummmm, they have liquor stores in Morocco?? Yes they do! We accidentally stumbled across one in Marrakech as we were walking to Jardin Majorelle. We made a mental note of where it was and stopped in when we were done at the gardens.

There were aisles of beer, wine and every kind of liquor you can think of. And the best part is the prices were not expensive! We picked up a couple bottles of wine to have on the rooftop of our riad.

Drinking responsibly in Morocco

Now that you know you can find and buy alcohol in Morocco, it’s time to talk about drinking responsibly in a Muslim country. Just because it’s there doesn’t mean you should go overboard.

For those of us that do drink, I’m sure we’ve all had our share of drinking way more than we should and maybe even possibly behaving in ways we shouldn’t. I’m not naming names but you know who you are!

Don’t over-do it

You know that voice in your head that says “I’m just going to have a few drinks. That’s it!”. Yeah, you should listen to that voice. Please don’t get drunk and rowdy in Morocco. It makes the rest of us look bad! Plus, you might give the restaurant or hotel a good reason to change their policy on selling alcohol.

Respect local laws and customs

If you’ve made it this far then you’re now aware that Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country with conservative attitudes towards alcohol consumption. It’s important to be respectful of Moroccan customs and laws regarding alcohol.

Don’t drink in public

Getting around in Morocco usually involves a lot of walking from one place to another. While in some alcohol friendly places (like New Orleans, Louisana) allow people to just walk around on the street with their drinks, that shouldn’t be done in Morocco. Drink only at the restaurant or your hotel.

Follow the rules

If a restaurant doesn’t serve alcohol do not try to bring your own. You wouldn’t do that at home (or you shouldn’t) so don’t do it in Morocco. Same goes with underage drinking. If you’re underage don’t try to drink in Morocco. I don’t think you want to spend the night in a Moroccan jail!

Plan ahead

If you know you’ll be drinking at a restaurant make sure you have a plan for how you’ll be getting home. Again, chances are good you’ll be walking and Moroccan cities and towns have lots of dark alleys that twist and turn and it’s easy to get lost. You could be walking for hours trying to find your hotel! Have the name and address of your hotel in case you need to take a taxi or ask someone for directions.

And definitely do NOT drink and drive. Get a taxi or walk.

Final thoughts on drinking in Morocco

While you can drink alcohol in Morocco, just remember to be responsible with it while there. Only drink in the place where alcohol is sold, not on the street. If you’ve purchased it at a store, take it back to your hotel to consume it. Again, don’t drink it out in public. And definitely don’t get drunk and then go out in public.