Can You Drink Alcohol in Morocco? Rules, Bars and Etiquette

Short answer: yes, visitors can drink alcohol in Morocco. It is legal for non-Muslims and is served in licensed hotels, bars and restaurants, and sold in the alcohol sections of large supermarkets. What you cannot do is drink in public: on the street, in a park, on the beach or in the medina lanes. Alcohol is also much less visible than in Europe. Most traditional restaurants, cafés and many riads do not serve it, and supply tightens around Ramadan and religious holidays.

Here is how it works in practice, city by city, with the etiquette that keeps you on the right side of local custom.

#Is alcohol legal in Morocco?

Morocco is a Muslim country, and the law formally restricts the sale of alcohol to Muslims. In practice, alcohol is produced in Morocco, sold openly in licensed venues and shops, and widely drunk by visitors and by a part of the local population. For a tourist, the rules that matter are simple:

• Buy and drink in licensed places. Hotels, bars, licensed restaurants and supermarket alcohol counters.
• Never drink in public. Drinking in the street and public drunkenness are offences and are genuinely frowned upon.
• Be discreet. Carry bottles in a bag, not in your hand, and do not take alcohol into mosques' surroundings, religious sites or family spaces.

#Where you can drink in Marrakech

• Hotels and resorts. Almost every large hotel has a licensed bar and restaurant.
• Gueliz and Hivernage. The modern districts of Marrakech have most of the city's bars, wine bars and licensed restaurants.
• Medina rooftops. A number of rooftop restaurants and terraces in the medina are licensed, and a sunset drink overlooking the Koutoubia is a classic evening. Many others are not, so check before you sit down. See our guide to Marrakech rooftop restaurants.
• Riads. It varies. Some riads have a licence and a small wine list; some allow you to bring your own bottle to drink in your room or on the terrace; some are completely dry. Ask before you book if it matters to you.
• Jemaa el-Fna. The food stalls on the main square do not serve alcohol.

#Where you can drink elsewhere in Morocco

• Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier and Agadir are the easiest: modern cities with plenty of bars, licensed restaurants and beach clubs, particularly Agadir's seafront.
• Fes is more conservative. Drinks are mostly found in hotels and a handful of licensed restaurants and riads.
• Essaouira has a relaxed atmosphere and several licensed restaurants and bars.
• Chefchaouen is very limited; expect only a few hotels.
• The Sahara. Many desert camps do not sell alcohol. Some higher-end camps do, and some allow guests to bring their own. If a drink under the stars matters to you, check with the camp in advance; we can arrange this for guests on our desert tours.

#Buying alcohol in shops

Large supermarkets such as Carrefour and Marjane have a separate alcohol section, usually in a closed-off area, with beer, Moroccan wine and imported spirits. Smaller licensed liquor shops exist in the modern districts of the cities. Corner shops do not sell alcohol.

Expect these shops to close their alcohol sections, or to stop selling, during Ramadan and around major religious holidays, and on some days elections or local rules may restrict sales. Hotels generally continue to serve guests.

#What to drink: Moroccan beer and wine

• Beer. Casablanca and Flag Spéciale are the familiar local lagers; Stork is another common name.
• Wine. Morocco has made wine since Roman times, and the main growing area today is around Meknes, with vineyards also near Benslimane and in the north. Look for Moroccan gris (a pale rosé), a style the country is known for, and full reds from the Meknes region. Guerrouane and Boulaouane are two names you will see on lists.
• Spirits. Imported spirits are available but expensive. Mahia, a fig spirit, is a traditional local distillate but is rarely sold openly.

Alcohol is relatively expensive in Morocco, especially in hotels, so budget accordingly.

#Ramadan and religious holidays

During Ramadan, the month of fasting, many bars close, supermarkets stop selling alcohol to residents, and some restaurants stop serving it. Hotels typically continue to serve guests, often more discreetly. Ramadan can be a wonderful time to visit, with lively evenings after sunset, but plan your drinking around it. Our guide to visiting Morocco during Ramadan explains what changes.

#Etiquette worth knowing

• Don't drink in front of people who are fasting during Ramadan.
• Don't offer alcohol to Moroccans you meet unless they clearly drink.
• If your driver or guide declines a drink, accept it with good grace.
• Keep it moderate. Being visibly drunk in public is one of the few ways a visitor can cause real offence, and it can bring trouble with the police.

#Bringing alcohol into Morocco

Travellers may bring a limited amount of alcohol into Morocco duty-free. Allowances can change, so check the current limits with your airline or Moroccan customs before you travel. Duty-free shops at Moroccan airports also sell alcohol on departure.

#Frequently asked questions

Can you drink alcohol in Marrakech?

Yes, in licensed hotels, bars and restaurants, mainly in Gueliz, Hivernage and selected medina rooftops. Drinking in public is not allowed.

Can tourists drink in Morocco during Ramadan?

Usually yes in hotels, though many bars close and supermarkets stop selling alcohol to residents. Be discreet.

Do riads in Marrakech serve alcohol?

Some do, some allow you to bring your own, and some are completely dry. Ask before booking.

Can you buy alcohol in supermarkets in Morocco?

Yes, large supermarkets such as Carrefour and Marjane have separate alcohol sections, which may close during Ramadan and religious holidays.

Is Moroccan wine good?

Morocco has a long wine-making history, mainly around Meknes. Its pale gris rosés and the reds from the Meknes region are worth trying.

#Planning a trip?

Questions like this are part of making a trip feel easy. Read our guides to what to wear, tipping and staying safe, or browse our private tours and we will tailor the details, from licensed riads to desert camps, to how you like to travel.