Debates have been spewing in Morocco concerning the decriminalization of alcohol consumption, following Minister of Justice’s recent statement on the matter.
The Minister of Justice raised this point in Parliament as well as during a number of recent seminars, but the question of the foreseen decision’s boldness raises many questions.
In the face of a wide encouragement of human rights organizations defending the idea and respecting personal individual freedoms, other groups fear that the matter will turn into a “normalization” of drinking culture with resulting unacceptable behavior.
Almost 170 million euros were collected in 2021 through royalties on alcohol in Morocco, exceeding that year’s Ministry of Finance forecasts.
In Morocco, more than 100 million litters of alcoholic beverages are consumed annually, despite the current penal code prohibiting its sale to Moroccans.
The legislation in question dates back to 1967, and is now clearly out of touch with the reality of alcohol in the Kingdom.
The Minister’s recent statements have caused a stir on social media, with differing opinions varying from encouragement and excitement, to total condemnation.
The Moroccan Ministry of Justice, over which Ouahbi took control following the recent legislative 2021 election, withdrew the draft penal code from the legislative process to review a number of its components.
The withdrawal of the draft criminal law had come in order to amend some of its contents, without issuing clarifications about the nature of the points of contingency.
However, considering the nature and ideology behind Ouahbi’s party (PAM), some aspects that may be subject to change is expected to be an overall focus on “individual freedoms,” a sentiment reinforced after Ouahbi’s recent statements.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.