5 African Countries Where Alcohol is Prohibited

In some African countries, strict laws, often based on religion, culture, or public health, ban or tightly control the making, selling, and drinking of alcohol.

These rules are usually enforced with serious penalties, and in many cases, even tourists must follow them.

Below are 5 countries where alcohol is prohibited or completely banned, along with a bit of background on each one:

1. Libya

Since the 1969 revolution, Libya’s government has enforced a total ban on alcohol under its strict interpretation of Islamic law. All stages, importing, manufacturing, distribution, and consumption, are criminalised, with offenders facing harsh penalties, including imprisonment, heavy fines, and even corporal punishment in some regions.

Despite these measures, a robust black market supplies clandestine bars and private gatherings, often smuggling in beer and spirits from neighbouring Tunisia.

Enforcement is uneven: urban centres like Tripoli may turn a blind eye to private consumption among expats, while tribal areas adhere to zero-tolerance policies.

2. Somalia

In Somalia, where Islamic law forms the backbone of national legislation, the sale and possession of alcohol are completely outlawed.

The ban extends to every Somali-administered territory, including semi-autonomous regions such as Puntland and Somaliland, although enforcement capacity varies. Militias and local authorities often carry out spot checks at checkpoints, seizing contraband and detaining suspects.

For many Somalis, abstinence is reinforced by social norms and religious teachings, making public demand for alcohol virtually nonexistent, yet a small, secretive trade persists among expatriates and some business communities.

3. Sudan

Sudan long prohibited alcohol for all citizens under its 1983 Islamic laws, with penalties ranging from fines and prison terms to flogging.

In 2020, the transitional government relaxed the ban slightly, permitting non-Muslim diplomats and foreign investors to consume alcohol within designated private clubs and five-star hotels. However, the majority-Muslim population remains subject to the prohibition, and public drinking or possession still carries legal risk.

Rural areas and conservative states within Sudan maintain strict enforcement, while Khartoum’s international hotels quietly serve imported wines and spirits behind guarded doors.

4. Mauritania

An Islamic Republic since 1960, Mauritania aligns its civil code with Sharia, outlawing all aspects of the alcohol industry. Citizens and visitors must abstain entirely,no imports, no licensed sales, no private distilling.

Nevertheless, a handful of high-end diplomatic missions and international NGOs receive special exemptions to import limited quantities for official events. Those caught brewing or hoarding liquor can face up to two years in prison.

Local attitudes are unwaveringly conservative, and public awareness campaigns frequently reinforce abstinence as both a moral duty and a public‐health measure.

5. Comoros

Although Comoros does not impose an absolute prohibition, its government exercises tight control over alcohol to respect Islamic traditions. Sales are restricted to a small number of licensed hotel bars—primarily on Grande Comore and Mohéli islands, and only non-Muslim tourists and expatriates are permitted to drink openly.

Local residents rarely have legal access, and unlicensed vendors face steep fines or closure. Smallholder artisans on some islands produce traditional coconut wine and palm toddy, but these brews occupy a murky legal status and are often ignored by authorities unless sold commercially.

Overall, the strict regulatory regime reflects Comoros’s desire to balance tourism dollars with cultural and religious values.