Alcohol in Morocco: Laws and rules for visitors
Alcohol in Morocco is legal, but tightly regulated. Visitors may drink in hotels, restaurants and bars that hold a licence, and buy sealed bottles from authorised shops. Drinking in the street, on the beach or in any other public place is an offence, and so is public drunkenness, which Moroccan law punishes with up to six months’ imprisonment.
The rules come from two texts adopted in 1967 and still in force: one that organises the trade in alcoholic drinks, and one that penalises drunkenness in public. This guide explains what they mean for a visitor, with the practical points that follow from them.
- Alcohol may only be served in licensed establishments and sold by authorised retailers.
- Drinking in public places and public drunkenness are punishable offences.
- The drink driving limit is 0.20 g of alcohol per litre of blood.
- Bringing alcohol into the country is limited to a personal customs allowance.
Yes, within a strict framework. The production, sale and serving of alcoholic drinks are governed by the Arrêté of the Director General of the Royal Cabinet n° 3-177-66 of 17 July 1967, which regulates the trade in alcoholic beverages. It sets out who may sell alcohol, where, under which licence and on what conditions.
Two points in this text shape what a visitor sees on the ground. Licences are granted to the establishment, not to the customer, so alcohol is legal only where the venue or shop is authorised. And Article 28 prohibits licence holders from selling or offering alcoholic drinks to Moroccans, which is why licensed venues are concentrated in hotels and in places that receive foreign visitors.
Morocco is a Muslim country, and most Moroccans do not drink. The rules that allow visitors to drink sit alongside that reality and should be read with it in mind.
The 1967 arrêté distinguishes between places where alcohol is consumed on site and shops that sell sealed bottles.
Establishments whose main activity is serving drinks for consumption on the premises. Licences are issued by the Director General of National Security, after review by a commission, through the local administrative authority.
Establishments where alcohol is served as a secondary activity, alongside meals or accommodation. Many riads, guesthouses and restaurants hold no licence and serve no alcohol at all.
Retail sale of sealed bottles requires an authorisation from the local administrative authority, after the opinion of the police or the gendarmerie. Many shops and supermarkets do not sell alcohol.
The same text adds rules that apply to every licensed venue:
- No outlet may open near religious buildings, cemeteries and similar places (Article 4).
- Opening and closing hours are set by the local authority (Article 25).
- Minors under 16 may not be admitted unless accompanied by a parent or responsible adult (Article 29).
- Selling or giving alcohol to a minor under 16 is prohibited and punishable (Article 30).
Outside a licensed venue, drinking is not permitted. The UK Foreign Office states in its advice for Morocco that drinking alcohol in the street or anywhere other than a licensed restaurant or bar is illegal and can lead to arrest.
- Streets, squares and medina lanes.
- Parks, gardens and promenades.
- Beaches and the seafront.
- Trains, buses, taxis and other public transport.
A person found in a state of obvious drunkenness in a public place faces imprisonment of one to six months and a fine of 150 to 500 dirhams, or one of these two penalties. The penalty is heavier when the drunkenness disturbs public order, and repeat offences carry imprisonment.
A bottle bought from an authorised shop is for private consumption. Keep it closed and out of sight while you carry it, and do not open it in a public space.
The Highway Code, Law n° 52-05, sets a very low limit. Under the joint Arrêté n° 2707-10 of 29 September 2010, a driver is considered under the influence from 0.20 g of alcohol per litre of blood, or 0.10 mg per litre of exhaled air. In practice, a single drink can be enough to exceed it.
The offence is punished by imprisonment, a fine and suspension of the driving licence, with heavier penalties for repeat offences. Refusing a breath test is treated as seriously as the offence itself. If you plan to drive, do not drink at all.
Ramadan is the month of fasting, from dawn to sunset, and it changes the rhythm of the whole country. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February and end around 9 March, with the exact dates fixed by the sighting of the moon and announced by the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs.
The 1967 arrêté contains no article specific to Ramadan. In practice, many shops suspend the sale of alcohol for the whole month, and licensed hotels and restaurants may reduce service or change their hours. Check with your accommodation before the dates of your stay.
- Do not eat, drink or smoke in public during fasting hours.
- Expect opening hours to shift around iftar, the meal that breaks the fast at sunset.
- Do not count on buying alcohol in shops during the month.
The law sets the limits, and custom completes them. Many Moroccans do not drink for religious reasons, and alcohol has no place in a family home, a village celebration or a religious setting unless your hosts make it clear otherwise.
- Never offer alcohol to your hosts, guides or drivers, and never insist.
- Stay sober when visiting mosques, zaouias, shrines and cemeteries.
- Keep any drinking discreet, inside the licensed venue.
- Follow the instructions of staff and of the authorities without discussion.
Sealed bottles from licensed venues and authorised shops are safe. The danger lies with alcohol of unknown origin. In June 2024, adulterated alcohol sold in Sidi Allal Tazi, in the province of Kenitra, poisoned 114 people and killed eight, according to the regional health directorate. A study by the Moroccan Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Centre, published in 2026, recorded 848 confirmed methanol poisonings and 110 deaths between 1981 and 2024.
- Buy only from licensed venues and authorised shops.
- Refuse homemade spirits and bottles of uncertain origin.
- Be wary of unusually cheap spirits.
Nausea, headache, dizziness or blurred vision after drinking can be signs of methanol poisoning. Vision problems are a medical emergency, even several hours later.
Emergency numbers in Morocco: 15 from a landline or 150 from a mobile for an ambulance, 19 or 190 for the police, 177 for the Royal Gendarmerie.
Travellers may bring a limited quantity of alcohol for personal use, under the duty-free allowance set by the Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects (ADII). The allowance generally published for an adult traveller is one litre of spirits above 22% or two litres of wine or beer. Quantities above the allowance must be declared and are taxed on arrival.
Children have no alcohol allowance, and adults cannot combine theirs. Allowances can change, so confirm the current figures with the ADII before you pack. A purchase made in a duty-free shop at your departure airport does not lift the limits that apply when you land.
Can tourists drink alcohol in Morocco?
Yes, in hotels, restaurants and bars that hold a licence. Sealed bottles can be bought from authorised shops for private consumption.
Is it illegal to drink alcohol in public in Morocco?
Yes. Drinking outside a licensed venue can lead to arrest, and public drunkenness is punishable by one to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of 150 to 500 dirhams under the Royal Decree of 14 November 1967.
Do all hotels and riads serve alcohol?
No. Only establishments with a licence may serve it, and many riads and guesthouses have none. Ask before booking if it matters to you.
Can I buy alcohol in a supermarket?
Only in shops authorised to sell it, usually in a separate section. Many shops sell none, and sales are commonly suspended during Ramadan.
What is the drink driving limit in Morocco?
0.20 g per litre of blood, or 0.10 mg per litre of exhaled air. This is lower than in most European countries.
How much alcohol can I bring into Morocco?
The allowance generally published is one litre of spirits or two litres of wine or beer per adult. Confirm the current figures with Moroccan customs before travelling.
- Arrêté of the Director General of the Royal Cabinet n° 3-177-66 of 17 July 1967Trade in alcoholic beverages
- Royal Decree n° 724-66 of 14 November 1967Public drunkenness
- Law n° 52-05 on the Highway Code and joint Arrêté n° 2707-10 of 29 September 2010Drink driving
- Administration des Douanes et Impôts Indirects (ADII)Customs allowances
- Moroccan Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Centre (CAPM)Methanol study, 2026
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development OfficeMorocco travel advice
Related guide: Drone laws in Morocco
This article is general information on Moroccan law for visitors, not legal advice. Texts and their application can change. Confirm current rules with the competent Moroccan authorities. Last reviewed October 2026.
