Pakistan, May 26 -- Saudi Arabia's government has strongly denied recent reports suggesting it plans to lift its 73-year-old ban on alcohol. These rumors, which originated from a wine blog last week, claimed the kingdom would permit controlled alcohol sales as it prepares to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. However, Saudi officials said these reports are false and stressed that the ban remains firmly in place in accordance with Islamic law.

The false report triggered widespread debate online within Saudi Arabia, a deeply conservative country where alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited for observant Muslims. The kingdom's leadership, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has introduced several social and economic reforms in recent...