Can you drink in Algeria? The short answer to this is yes, you very much can, but there are some very big nuances to things. These include alcohol not being available in the whole country and the Islamic attitude to booze being somewhat mixed.
This was something I found out via my TikTok channel where views vert much covered the whole spectrum. To summarize though, you can get boozed when you travel to Algeria, but as always there are one, or two nuances to things.
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What the drinking in Algeria?
Alcohol in Algeria is legal for adults, but it is tightly regulated. Bars and hotels serving tourists are fine, but buying alcohol in regular shops is restricted. Historically, Algeria was a major wine producer during the French colonial period, with vineyards supplying both local and French markets. After independence in 1962, alcohol sales were limited and mostly controlled by the state.
Today, domestic wine and spirits are still produced, but availability is limited, especially outside major cities. Public intoxication is illegal, fines are enforced, and drinking is expected to be done discreetly. Essentially, you can drink, but you need to know where and how.
Attitude to drinking in Algeria
When I have drunk in Algeria at the bars, I have found it a very chilled pub-type atmosphere where no one is judging you at least inside the bars. Were you though to get shit-faced and wander around the street, it is not going to go down all that well.
Algeria is also formerly a country that voted in Islamic fundamentalists, and while many people are to a degree liberal, it is certainly not everyone. This means, as I saw on my TikTok, that while drinking is not illegal, it is frowned upon, done in secret, and for many at least considered an evil that is anti-Islam. As people like to point out, Algeria is not Morocco.
The Algiers drinking scene
Algiers is the drinking capital of Algeria, but that does not mean that it is exactly Marrakech either. Generally speaking, the bars that do exist are inside restaurants or hotels and do have a speakeasy feel to them. Generally speaking, it is men drinking, no women.
The scene itself is relaxed, low-key, and very much about conversation rather than loud music or partying. Most bars cater to locals and tourists who know where to look, and the atmosphere is discreet. A couple of upscale hotels serve cocktails and wine openly, but otherwise you are mostly in small, tucked-away places where staff and patrons are friendly but private.
5 Drinks in Algeria to try
Being on the Med, next to Europe, and blessed with weather means that Algeria is a great place for making booze. Therefore! We suggest the following 5 drinks for you to try in Algeria, or at least Algiers:
- Boukha – A strong fig brandy, typically homemade or locally bottled. Sweet, fruity, and packs a punch if you are not careful.
- Mahia – A date or fig-based spirit, aromatic and earthy, usually served in small shots.
- Algerian Beer – Local lagers like Stella or Hamoud are easy to find in bars, light and refreshing in the Mediterranean heat.
- Algerian Wine – Reds and rosés produced from local vineyards, influenced by French wine-making traditions; try blends from Mascara or Coteaux de Tlemcen.
- Arak – A strong anise-flavored spirit, traditionally diluted with water and ice. Potent, aromatic, and distinctly North African.
Conclusion
So, yeah, you can drink in Algeria and indeed we do on tours, particularly in Algiers. But doing so should always be done respectfully and in line with cultural norms. Click here to see our list of Algeria Tours.