The authorities in Casablanca have pulled the plug on Morocco’s first ever beer festival, claiming “non-compliance” by the organisers with the law.



“Following media announcements about a beer festival in Casablanca, the authorities have asked the organisers to stop their publicity campaign immediately and cancel the event,” a statement said.



It said the ban was being imposed “because of non-compliance by the company with legal rules and procedures in this area”.



The month-long festival organised by the “Brasserie du Maroc” group had been due to start on Thursday in several bars and cities of the North African country’s commercial capital.



Organisers said they were hoping to halt a decline in beer sales of 7.0 percent in 2013 and 5.4 percent in 2014.



The sale of alcohol to Muslims in Morocco is illegal, but it produces more than 40 million bottles of wine a year, most of which is consumed within the country.



A Muslim caught drinking alcohol in public risks a heavy fine and up to six months in jail if convicted.



Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 12:05 - GMT 09:05