This is the most common practical question I get from travelers before they land: am I allowed to have a glass of wine with dinner? Yes. Then five follow-ups: where do I buy?, what does it cost?, what about Ramadan?, can I drink at the riad rooftop?, am I going to offend anyone? This guide answers each, with concrete supermarket names, 2026 prices, and the one paragraph of legal nuance you actually need.
Can I drink alcohol in Morocco? Quick answer
Yes — for foreigners, alcohol is straightforward. Hotel bars, riad rooftops, licensed restaurants, beach clubs, and large supermarkets all serve or sell it openly. Morocco’s tourism economy depends on this; pretending it’s underground is unhelpful. Where it gets more careful is drinking in public spaces (streets, parks, beaches without a licensed beach club) — that’s discouraged and occasionally fined, regardless of who you are. And for Moroccan Muslim citizens, the legal situation is technically restrictive even though enforcement is uneven.
What follows is the practical version: what’s legal, where to buy, what it costs, how Ramadan changes things, and the etiquette that keeps you out of awkward situations.
The law: who can buy and drink alcohol in Morocco
Three pieces of Moroccan law sit underneath every alcohol question:
Article 281 of the Penal Code technically prohibits the sale of alcohol to Moroccan Muslims. Foreigners and Moroccan non-Muslims (Jews, Christians) are exempted. In practice, supermarkets and licensed retailers operate on a self-policing basis: in tourist areas, IDs are rarely checked; in conservative cities, they sometimes are.
Law 03-12 (passed 2014) regulates the licensing of bars, hotels, restaurants, and shops that sell alcohol. Only licensed venues can serve. Licensed = a sign saying so, a visible price list, transactions on receipts. Unlicensed selling exists but isn’t where tourists go.
Public drinking is not explicitly criminalized but is treated as a public-order matter. Drinking on a street corner with a beer in hand will get you stopped; drinking on a hotel terrace or a licensed beach club is fine.
The practical takeaway: stay in licensed spaces, drink with food or in private settings, and you’re fine.
Where to buy alcohol in Morocco
Five supermarket chains operate in Morocco’s cities. Three sell alcohol, two don’t:
In larger Carrefour or Marjane stores, the alcohol section is often behind a separate set of double doors or curtains — both for discretion and because the section closes earlier than the main store (and entirely during Ramadan). Look for the section near the back, or ask staff for l’épicerie fine or cave — they’ll know.
Ville Nouvelle districts in Marrakech (Gueliz), Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, and Agadir have the most reliable alcohol retail. Medinas mostly don’t — you’ll need to walk to a Ville Nouvelle Carrefour or have a hotel staff member procure it.
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Hotel bars, riad bars, and restaurants serving alcohol
Three categories of venue serve alcohol on premises:
Hotel bars (3-star and up). Almost universally licensed. The Hyatts, Sofitels, Mövenpicks, Marriotts, Hiltons, and Pestanas all have bars open to non-guests. La Mamounia (Marrakech), Sofitel Tour Blanche (Casablanca), and Royal Mansour (Marrakech) are landmark high-end options.
Riad bars and restaurants. Many mid-range and luxury riads have licensed rooftop bars or paired restaurant licenses. Confirm at booking — some riads in deeply traditional Fes neighborhoods are dry. Marrakech-medina riads with rooftop bars are common; Fes-medina riads more variable.
Standalone licensed restaurants. Especially in Marrakech (Le Comptoir Darna, Café Arabe, Nomad’s wine list, Café des Épices), Casablanca (Rick’s Café, Brasserie La Bavaroise), Tangier (El Morocco Club, Café Hafa), and Essaouira. The license is a wine list at your table.
What you won’t find in medina restaurants: most local Moroccan-cuisine restaurants in medinas don’t serve alcohol — even tourist-popular ones. That’s a culture choice by the owner, not a law. If you want wine with your tagine, eat at a riad or a Ville Nouvelle restaurant.
Typical prices for tourists in 2026
Realistic prices (verify on arrival, but the brackets are stable):
| Item | Supermarket (Carrefour/Marjane) | Hotel bar | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local beer (Casablanca, Flag Spéciale, Stork) | 15-25 MAD ($1.50-2.50) | 40-80 MAD ($4-8) | Casablanca brand is the most-poured |
| Imported beer (Heineken, Stella) | 25-40 MAD | 60-100 MAD | Import duty makes it pricier |
| Moroccan wine (bottle, Médaillon, Beni M’tir) | 80-150 MAD ($8-15) | 180-350 MAD ($18-35) | Surprisingly good — surprises wine lovers |
| Imported wine (French, Spanish) | 180-400+ MAD | 400-800+ MAD | Heavy import duty; not worth it |
| Spirits (whiskey, vodka — 750ml bottle) | 250-600+ MAD | 80-150 MAD per glass | Expensive — heaviest import duty |
Moroccan wine is the surprise. The Atlas foothills around Meknes have a wine industry dating to the French Protectorate (1912-1956) that mostly disappeared from international markets but produces decent table wines: Domaine de Sahari, Domaine des Ouled Thaleb, Volubilia, Cuvée du Président. Even the supermarket-tier bottles are drinkable; the higher-end ones (Tandem, Coteaux de l’Atlas) compare favorably to mid-range French wines at twice the supermarket price.
Can you drink alcohol in Morocco during Ramadan?
This is the question that catches most travelers off-guard. Yes, but with two changes:
Supermarket alcohol sales are suspended for everyone (Moroccan and foreign) for the entire month of Ramadan. Carrefour, Marjane, and other licensed retailers stop alcohol sales the night before Ramadan begins and resume the day after Eid al-Fitr. There’s no workaround at supermarkets — the alcohol sections are closed and curtained.
Licensed hotel bars and 5-star restaurant bars continue serving through Ramadan, but only inside the venue. Most explicitly cater to international travelers during this period. Discretion is expected — you wouldn’t walk through a Marrakech medina with a beer during Ramadan daytime even though no one will physically stop you.
If your trip overlaps Ramadan (Feb 17-Mar 19 in 2026; Feb 6-Mar 7 in 2027; Jan 26-Feb 24 in 2028), our visiting Morocco during Ramadan guide has the full daily-rhythm breakdown.
Drinking in public: what’s legal vs frowned-upon
The line is licensed space vs unlicensed public space. A clear yes:
- Hotel bar, terrace, pool deck ✅
- Riad rooftop or restaurant ✅
- Licensed beach club (Agadir, Tangier corniche, Saidia) ✅
- Inside your hotel room or rented villa ✅
- Licensed restaurant table ✅
A clear no:
- Walking with an open beer through a medina ❌
- Public park or square ❌
- Public beach without a licensed bar ❌
- Mosque vicinity or religious-pilgrimage town ❌
Cultural etiquette: where and how to drink without offending
Three small habits prevent every avoidable awkward situation:
1. Don’t bring alcohol to a Moroccan host’s home as a gift, even if you know they drink. Wine bottles aren’t the right gesture. Bring Moroccan pastries (chebakia, briouats, msemen), good dates, premium mint tea, or imported chocolate. A Moroccan host who drinks will tell you to drink with them — but the gift is separate.
2. Don’t drink visibly during Ramadan daytime, even as a foreigner. Not because anyone will arrest you; because it’s a small, deliberate kindness to people fasting around you. Hotel bars are fine; medina cafés are not.
3. Don’t photograph people drinking in public-facing settings. Even if they’re foreigners. Moroccan media outlets occasionally seize on tourist drinking photos as cultural commentary, and your Instagram post can become someone else’s unwanted exposure. Especially avoid photographing groups of Moroccans drinking; both you and they are best served by privacy.
For deeper cultural etiquette around Ramadan, mosques, and dress codes, see our Moroccan culture and customs guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can tourists drink alcohol in Morocco?
Yes. Foreign tourists can buy alcohol at large supermarkets (Carrefour, Marjane) and drink at licensed bars, hotel restaurants, riad rooftops, and beach clubs without restriction. The only legal nuance affects Moroccan Muslim citizens (Article 281 of the Penal Code), which is technically restrictive but unevenly enforced. Public drinking — open container on a street or square — is the one practice to avoid.
Where can I buy alcohol in Morocco?
Carrefour and Marjane are your two most reliable bets, in cities only. Acima, BIM, and Aswak Assalam don’t sell alcohol. Smaller towns may have no alcohol-stocking supermarket at all. Hotel mini-bars are an option in luxury properties. In Marrakech medina, ask your riad — many will deliver beer or wine to your room.
How much does alcohol cost in Morocco?
Local beer (Casablanca, Flag): 15-25 MAD at supermarket, 40-80 MAD at hotel bar. Moroccan wine: 80-150 MAD/bottle supermarket, 180-350 MAD restaurant. Imports carry heavy duty — imported wine is 2-3× Moroccan equivalents. Spirits are the most expensive category. A typical riad-rooftop cocktail runs 80-150 MAD ($8-15).
Can you drink in Marrakech?
Yes, at licensed venues. Hotel bars in Gueliz (Hivernage area), riad-rooftop restaurants in the medina, and standalone restaurants like Le Comptoir Darna, Café Arabe, and Nomad all serve. Jemaa el-Fna food stalls don’t serve alcohol — go to a rooftop terrace overlooking the square instead. For a full Marrakech itinerary, see our 7-day Morocco plan.
Is it OK to drink alcohol in front of Moroccans?
In a licensed venue, yes — many Moroccans drink in those same spaces. In a private home, follow your host’s lead. During Ramadan daytime, drink only behind closed venues — out of respect for those fasting, not out of legal worry. Public-space drinking should be avoided regardless.
Sources cited in this guide
- Moroccan Penal Code Article 281 — sale of alcohol to Moroccan Muslims regulation.
- Moroccan Law 03-12 (2014) — licensing for alcohol sale & service venues.
- Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) — official tourism information.
- Moroccan wine industry historical context — Atlas-Meknes wine region (French Protectorate-era origins, 1912-1956).