All praise is due to Allah alone, and peace and blessings be upon the one after whom there is no prophet. To proceed:
In the tenth session of the Council of Senior Scholars held in Riyadh from 22/3-4/4/1397 AH, the research presented by the Committee regarding the issue of drinking alcohol and the punishment for the drinker was reviewed. After exchanging views and discussing the following matters:
1. The punishment for the drinker of alcohol.
2. The division of the punishment for the drinker of alcohol.
3. The establishment of the punishment in the presence of the smell or vomit along with another evidence.
4. The presence of a person in an abnormal state.
5. The punishment for one who repeatedly drinks alcohol after the punishment has been established against him.
After referring to the legal texts and the statements of scholars regarding the mentioned matters, the Council decided the following:
1. That the punishment for the drinker of alcohol is the prescribed punishment and not discretionary punishment unanimously, and it was decided that it is eighty lashes except for Sheikh Abdullah bin Qaud, who believes it to be forty.
2. The Council unanimously decided to carry out the prescribed punishment in one go and not to divide it.
3. The Council decided by majority that the prescribed punishment is established in the presence of the smell of alcohol or vomit along with another evidence that the judge is convinced of.
4. The judge may impose discretionary punishment on one who has repeatedly drunk alcohol three times, and the prescribed punishment is established after each time with what he sees fit in terms of imprisonment, lashes, and similar measures, along with the obligatory punishment.
And Allah is the Grantor of success, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.