Apart from visiting a country to explore its diverse culture and discover exotic attractions, you can also sample its entertainment joints.
Africa is a great continent blessed with excellent attractions sites and vibrant entertainment joints.
Although alcoholic drinks are available in every African country, Muslim-dominated countries have stringent policies that make it difficult to obtain alcohol.
Therefore, if you are planning to visit Africa or any other country, it is crucial to be accustomed to their policies and laws to avoid complications.
Egypt
Egypt is predominantly Islamic, with 90% of its population identifying as Muslims.
In the Islamic religion, alcohol is prohibited and considered haram (forbidden). Although certain cities are progressive and alcohol is available, others are highly conservative.
Considering that alcohol is frowned upon by most Egyptians, you cannot drink alcohol in public.
As a matter of fact, you cannot drink alcohol anywhere else apart from bars or licensed restaurants. If found partaking in alcohol in public, you can be arrested.
Additionally, it is restricted to sell alcohol in shops and supermarkets, except for hotels, bars, and tourist resorts or facilities approved by the ministry.
It is prohibited to sell alcohol during Ramadan and Islamic holy days.
Therefore, if you are planning to visit Egypt and enjoy your favorite drink, reschedule your visit to days or seasons that are not marked as holy.
Egypt’s laws are based on Islamic teaching, therefore it has different sets of traditions and customs that are different from yours.
Therefore, you should always avoid actions that are offensive to Egyptian culture and religion, including drinking alcohol in public.
Lastly, ensure that you have a valid photo ID at all times to access tourist resorts where alcohol is accessible.
DO NOT overindulge and walk in public while excessively drunk because this will lead to arrest.
Sudan
Similar to Egypt, Sudan is an Islamic state with only an estimated 3% of the population identifying as non-Muslim.
As such, Sudan has stringent laws on alcohol sales, production, and consumption.
During the previous regime, it was illegal to drink alcohol in Sudan, regardless of religious affiliation.
However, since its ouster in late 2019, the current government has enacted reforms that allow non-Muslims to drink.
Although alcohol consumption for non-Muslim is legal in the country, there is a raft of guidelines and laws that should be adhered to, and any violation can lead to arrest.
As a way of safeguarding the rights of everybody, including non-Muslims, it is now legal to drink, import, and sell alcohol in Sudan.
Although it is legal for non-Muslims to drink alcohol in Sudan, the law only allows you to drink alcohol privately.
Additionally, a Muslim Sudanese cannot buy you alcohol as it is illegal to even touch or stock alcohol in Muslim-owned shops.
Therefore, if you are in need of an alcoholic drink, you will have to purchase it yourself in an approved shop, bar, or restaurant.
Like Egypt – You are not allowed to drink alcohol in a public place regardless of whether you are non-Muslim.
It is also illegal to drink alcohol in Sudan in the company of Muslim Sudanese.
Therefore, when taking alcohol, ensure that you are in the company of a non-Muslim or you are in private. Any violation of these laws can result to arrest.
Again, it would be best if you did not walk in the streets of Sudan cities or towns when heavily drunk as it is considered as disturbing the peace of others.
Therefore, you will have to reconsider your plans if you are thinking of traveling to Sudan and freely enjoying your favorite drink.
Libya
Libya also falls in the category of countries with a majority Muslim population.
However, Libya differs from Egypt and Sudan because it has a complete ban on alcohol.
Considering that alcohol is banned in the Quran and Libya prides itself as the custodian and follower of traditional Islamic values and culture in Africa, it is hard to find alcohol in the country.
In Libya, it is illegal to possess, use, or traffic alcoholic drinks into the country.
Any violation of these Libyan laws can carry hefty and severe penalties.
It is important to note that if found breaking any Libyan rules, your country of origin will not help you evade criminal penalties.
In Libya – It is illegal to drink alcohol, even in private. There are no licensed restaurants that sell alcohol.
However, it can be found illegally in alleys.
Alcohol sale in Libya is similar to selling illegal drugs in the United States.
Some people even brew their own beer or wine at home but illegally. The most common type of brew is moonshine.
Since it is brewed illegally the country experienced severe alcohol poisoning that resulted in hundreds of deaths, and thousands were left with significant ailments after consuming moonshine laced with methanol.
Somalia
Apart from insecurity, Somalia has stringent alcohol consumption policies.
Somalia’s legal system is highly based on the Hanafi School.
In Somalia, including Somaliland, alcohol-related offenses, including possession, drinking, or trafficking, are treated as serious offenses and punishable by law.
Although foreigners and non-Muslims are allowed to drink alcohol, some regulations exist.
Alcohol should not be consumed in public.
According to the country’s local laws, it is an offense to be drunk in public to the point that the person is a danger to himself or the property around or annoys persons in the vicinity.
Therefore, any violation of this guideline is punishable by law.
Additionally – Possessing alcoholic drinks without necessary documentation and approval is considered a violation of the country’s penal code.
According to Somali laws, alcoholic beverages are beverages that have an alcohol content that exceeds three percent.
Final Thoughts
Africa is very diverse, blessed with different cultures, traditions, flora and fauna, and religious beliefs.
Some countries have laws similar to western countries.
However, most Islamic countries base their legal systems on the Quran, which prohibits alcohol consumption.
Nonetheless, due to tourism and its effect on the economy, some have softened their stand on alcohol sale, possession, and consumption to accommodate everybody’s rights, such as in Egypt and Sudan.
