Saudi Arabia: Booze for the Elite, Repression for the Masses
Riyadh is quietly allowing its wealthy foreign residents to buy booze, framing this as 'liberalization.' The AP notes this is for those with 'Premium Residency,' which typically requires substantial investment or 'specialized skills.' (So, not your average migrant worker.) This curated 'reform' ensures profits flow to the elite while maintaining social control for the rest. Crown Prince Mohammed
bin Salman (MBS) is hailed for 'reforms' like allowing women to drive. Yet, the same paragraph from the AP admits: 'political speech and dissent remain strictly criminalized, potentially at the penalty of death.' One might question the priorities when the right to an Old Fashioned supersedes the right to free expression. Perhaps the AP finds a limited liquor license more compelling than the
ongoing imprisonment of human rights activists.