Saudi Arabia's first alcohol store has opened in the diplomatic quarter of its capital Riyadh, accessible to non-Muslim diplomats.
Drinking is also forbidden under Islam, and most of Saudi Arabia's local population is religiously observant.
From there, bottles are often sold on the black market at huge markups, according to expat and local residents of the country.
A one-liter bottle of vodka, for instance, typically costs between $500 and $600 on the black market, sources said, while they described a single bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label going for between $1,000 and $2,000.
At-home booze making has also taken place in the kingdom for decades, according to expats who've previously lived there.
Persons:
Johnnie Walker Blue, expats who've
Organizations:
Saudi, CNBC
Locations:
Riyadh, Saudi, British, Dubai