Travel Q&A
Is alcohol legal in Morocco? Where can I drink?
Short answer Yes, alcohol is legal in Morocco for non-Muslims, but it's far less visible than in Europe. Public drinking is taboo, prices are taxed up, and Ramadan rules are real.
Yes, alcohol is legal in Morocco for non-Muslims, but it’s far less visible than in Europe. Public drinking is taboo, prices are taxed up, and Ramadan rules are real.
Where you can drink
- Licensed restaurants and hotel bars in tourist zones. Almost every riad with a restaurant has wine. Marrakech, Casablanca, Tangier, Essaouira, Agadir all have visible bar scenes.
- Supermarkets, Carrefour, Marjane, Acima, Atacadão all have an alcohol section. Usually a separate, side-entrance room. Open until ~8 PM, closed on Fridays (the holy day), closed during Ramadan, closed on Islamic holidays.
- Specialty wine shops, Nicolas in Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech.
- In your riad or hotel room. Always fine.
Where you can’t (or shouldn’t)
- Anywhere public, parks, beaches, medinas, streets. Not technically always illegal, but socially unacceptable and you’ll attract police attention.
- Non-tourist restaurants. Most local cafés and tagine joints don’t serve alcohol.
- Mosques and religious sites. Obviously.
What it costs
Heavy excise tax means alcohol is 2–3× European prices.
| Tourist-zone restaurant | Supermarket | |
|---|---|---|
| Local beer (Casablanca, Flag Spéciale) | 30–60 MAD | 12–20 MAD |
| Imported beer (Heineken) | 60–90 MAD | 25–35 MAD |
| Moroccan wine (Volubilia, Cuvée du Président) | 250–400 MAD | 80–150 MAD |
| Imported wine | 400–800 MAD | 200–400 MAD |
| Cocktail at a rooftop bar | 100–180 MAD | , |
Moroccan wine, surprisingly, is decent. Volubilia rosé, Cuvée du Président rouge, and Médaillon are worth ordering. The reds from Meknès are best.
Ramadan rules
During Ramadan (mid-Feb to mid-March in 2026), alcohol disappears from supermarkets, most bars close, and tourist-licensed restaurants quietly continue serving, but discreetly, often after sunset only.
If you’re visiting during Ramadan, don’t ask for alcohol before iftar (sunset breaking of the fast). Even in places that serve it, it’s awkward.
Common mistakes
- Trying to buy at 6 PM on Friday. Closed. Plan ahead.
- Bringing duty-free into a non-licensed restaurant. They’ll politely refuse to let you open it.
- Public drinking on the beach. Even tourist beaches. Don’t.
- Driving after a glass. Moroccan alcohol limits are strict (0.0% effectively) and police check on holidays.