Can you drink alcohol in Morocco?

The short answer

Yes, you can drink alcohol in Morocco. It is a Muslim-majority country where most locals do not drink, but alcohol is entirely legal for anyone aged 18 and over — it is produced domestically, sold in licensed venues and shops, and freely available to tourists. What trips visitors up isn't the law; it's the etiquette. Alcohol in Morocco is something you enjoy discreetly and in the right places, not openly in the street.

Get that distinction right and you'll have no trouble at all: a glass of local wine with dinner, a beer on a hotel terrace, or bottles bought from a supermarket to enjoy back at your riad are all perfectly normal. The rest of this guide covers exactly where to find it, when shops are closed, the rules around Ramadan and public drinking, and the homegrown wine and beer worth trying.

Where to buy and drink it

Alcohol is served in licensed premises, which in practice means:

• Hotels and riads — most mid-range and upmarket hotels have a bar or will serve drinks; many rooftop terraces serve beer and wine.
• Bars and nightclubs — common in the bigger cities and tourist resorts (Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, Agadir).
• Tourist and upscale restaurants — many restaurants aimed at visitors are licensed; more traditional and local eateries usually are not, so check before you sit down expecting wine with the tajine.
• Liquor stores — dedicated shops in the larger cities sell wine, beer and spirits to take away.

Availability varies sharply by location. The big cities and beach resorts have plenty of options, while smaller, more conservative towns may have very little or none. Some popular destinations — including Chefchaouen and many small medina towns — have limited availability, so if you want a drink there, your hotel bar may be the only practical option.

Supermarkets and shops

The most economical way to buy alcohol is from a large supermarket. Major chains — Marjane, Carrefour and Acima — stock beer, wine and spirits, usually in a separate, screened-off section of the store rather than on the open shelves. You'll often find it tucked at the back or behind its own checkout.

Two important catches:

• Closed on Fridays. The alcohol section is typically shut on Friday, the Muslim day of prayer, even when the rest of the supermarket is open.
• Closed on religious holidays and during Ramadan. Expect no sales during the holy month or on major Islamic holidays.

Ordinary corner shops (hanouts), street stalls and traditional cafés do not sell alcohol. Bring your passport or ID — you may be asked for proof of age.

Public drinking and the law

Drinking alcohol is legal; drinking it in public is not. Consuming alcohol in the street, in parks, in public squares or anywhere out in the open is unacceptable and can attract police attention. Keep your drinking to licensed venues or the privacy of your accommodation.

Equally important: do not be visibly drunk in public. Public intoxication is culturally offensive and can cause real trouble. Moroccans are generally relaxed and hospitable, but flaunting alcohol or stumbling through a medina is a fast way to lose that goodwill. Enjoy it the way locals who drink do — quietly and in the right setting.

Alcohol during Ramadan

During the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, alcohol becomes far harder to find and far more sensitive. Many shops stop selling it altogether for the month and supermarket alcohol sections usually close. Some hotel bars and tourist restaurants continue to serve, but the selection narrows.

If you do drink during Ramadan, be exceptionally discreet — never drink, eat or smoke openly in public during daylight hours, as it is deeply disrespectful to those fasting around you. Confine it to your accommodation or a licensed venue clearly catering to non-fasting guests. Ramadan moves earlier by about 11 days each year, so check the dates before you travel.

Moroccan wine and beer

Morocco makes its own alcohol, and the local stuff is both cheaper and worth trying:

Wine. Morocco has a wine industry dating back generations, centred on the Meknès region in the north — the climate and altitude there suit vineyards well. You'll find reds and rosés, plus a pale rosé known as gris that's a local speciality and pairs nicely with Moroccan food. Local bottles are a fraction of the price of imported wine, which is heavily taxed.

Beer. The two best-known Moroccan beers are Casablanca (a smooth lager you'll see everywhere) and Flag, both widely available in bars, restaurants and supermarkets. They're the easy, affordable default and perfectly good in the heat.

What it costs

Because alcohol is taxed, it's pricier than you might expect for the region — and dramatically cheaper bought from a shop than ordered in a bar:

For more on day-to-day costs, see our Morocco budget guide.

Etiquette and respect

• Keep it discreet. Drink in licensed venues or private, carry bottles in an opaque bag, and never drink in the street.
• Don't offer alcohol to Moroccans unless you know they drink — many don't, for religious reasons, and offering can be awkward or offensive.
• Be doubly mindful in Ramadan and around mosques, religious sites and conservative areas.
• Don't get visibly drunk. Public intoxication is offensive and can cause legal problems.
• Read the room by location. A beach resort in Agadir and a small Rif mountain town are very different settings — match your behaviour to where you are.

None of this is meant to discourage you — drinking responsibly and discreetly in Morocco is completely normal and trouble-free. It's simply about respecting a country where most people choose not to drink, and enjoying your wine or beer in a way that fits in rather than stands out.

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