The law of rule

I can do no better than quote the BBC headline: “Saudi Arabia is lifting the alcohol ban for wealthy foreigners.”

“The liquor shop first opened in Riyadh in January 2024, but entry was initially restricted to non-Muslim diplomats,” according to the notoriously “woke” British Broadcasting Corporation.

“Under new rules introduced without announcement at the end of 2025, wealthy, non-Muslim foreign residents can now also go there to purchase beer, wine and spirits.”

The Kingdom’s only speakeasy is tucked away in an “exclusive neighborhood” in Riyadh, the capital — presumably so diplomats can dispatch their serfs to hustle on down to it ‘round closing time.

Saudi Arabia prohibited the sale of alcohol in 1952. But today, thanks to bribes to the benevolent prince, anyone who is not a Muslim but holds a Premium Residency permit (which costs 100,000 Saudi riyals, or $27,000) and can prove that he earns — or is paid — at least 50,000 riyals per month ($18,051— $4,500 a week; $216,612 a year), can buy and drink alcohol (but not in public), so long as it comes from the Kingdom’s only quasilegal speakeasy.

Eventually — talk about your slippery slope — even rich tourists will be able to get sloshed in bin Salman’s kingdom. And why?

Due to declining oil prices (mid-$60s a barrel, down from $100+ in 2022), Saudi Arabia is trying to lure tourists, who — prepare to be shocked — often like to get boozed up. But — and this is important — rich tourists only.

Plans are in the works for two more Princely speakeasies, in Jeddah on the shore of the Red Sea, and in Dhahran, home of the state oil company Aramco.

A British executive told the BBC that he bought a bottle of Johnny Walker Black at the Riyadh speakeasy for the low-low price of $124.

The magic of tariffs.

Despite the strict criteria for admission, “queues can stretch for more than an hour” outside the royal speakeasy, sayeth the Beeb.

And despite the 1952 law, and Islamic law — prepare to be shocked — booze has always been available in the Kingdom, from home brews, from smugglers and from cousins once removed — just the way we used to buy marijuana.

A lot of booze has always been imported through embassies, which can tote it in, in sacks, called “diplomatic privilege.”

This brings us back to our topic sentence: Giving rich people rights that are unavailable to poor people.

That’s life in the United States today.

Want a pardon for bank fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, tax fraud, inside trading? Step to the front of the line, and, uh, bring your wallet.

Want absolute immunity for murdering members of the Democratic, or any unworthy, Party? Step to the front of the line. You need not remove your mask.

Want to duck your federal taxes for 11 years, then sue the IRS for $10 billion ($300+ out of each U.S. citizen’s wallet — even the babies!) because someone slipped a note to a news reporter that you didn’t pay federal taxes for 11 years, while claiming to be one of the richest men in the world?

Step to … wait a minute … there is no such line. Just Little Donnie and the Sheik. But hell, I’m sure it’s legal over there.

Only difference between the Sheik’s country and our country today is that Saudis have to sin and break laws in private. Here, now, we can do it openly. So long as we throw enough money to enough of the right people with our right hand.