MALAYSIA: About 10 days in the past, a Malaysian posted a photograph of a Guinness can present in a retailer in Saudi Arabia, inflicting a significant stir in some quarters.
For a while now, the happenings in Saudi Arabia have attracted backlash in Malaysia, notably with stories that alcohol is now out there on the market within the nation the place the 2 holy cities of Islam are positioned.
In accordance with an area web site, the Guinness can was noticed on a retailer shelf in Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Madinah is the second-holiest metropolis in Islamic beliefs. That is the place the Prophet of Islam is buried, within the Masjid Nabawi.
Nevertheless, the product is just not what its iconic branding would possibly counsel. The can within the picture exhibits the Guinness Draught 0.0, an alcohol-free stout with 0% alcohol by quantity (ABV).
In Saudi Arabia, alcohol is strictly prohibited, however this product is bought legally within the nation the place the Kingdom permits drinks licensed at 0.0% ABV.
As anticipated, the put up drew enormous responses from Malaysians of all walks of life on Fb.
Some locals have been joking concerning the 100% alcohol-free tag; others have been a bit extra sarcastic, saying Muslims is not going to be allowed to drink these in Malaysia, and a few took it severely, too.
One stated they presume it isn’t going to be categorised as ‘halal’ or permissible in Malaysia. They famous a ‘good’ cause for this.
“I presume it’s nonetheless not halal in Malaysia as a result of it’s not produced in a halal-certified manufacturing unit.”
The halal subject has gone viral many occasions in Malaysia. There have been restrictions on Muslims to feast in ‘No Pork, No Lard’ eating places. These can be eating places that wouldn’t have a ‘halal’ certification.
Then there was the subject of a drunk Malay navy officer who crashed his automotive on a freeway towards site visitors, hitting one other automotive. The accident killed a YouTuber from Bangladesh.
The truth that he was drunk raised some eyebrows amongst locals. It’s haram, the opposite of Halal, for Muslims to drink alcohol.
Again to the case of the Saudi Guinness can, it’s bought in supermarkets corresponding to Carrefour KSA and Tamimi Markets. This can be a non-alcoholic stout that mimics the style of the unique draught beer with out the alcohol content material.
On Fb, some customers stated the product is bought in Malaysia as a stout, saying: “In Malaysia, it was branded as Guinness Malta.”
Nevertheless, one other chimed, “Now u can drink Guinness Malta in peace.”
On a extra critical notice, another person stated: The drink could possibly be innocent and might be thought-about consumable, however nonetheless, it was produced by Guinness or Heineken, so it’s forbidden,” expressing their views within the Malaysian context.
Alcohol in Saudi Arabia stays usually unlawful, though restrictions have eased for particular, high-income non-Muslim international residents and authorised diplomats.
In accordance with Google searches, a restricted, specialised retailer exists in Riyadh, requiring prior registration and wage verification for entry.
