Let’s know about ‘Drinking Alcohol at the Qatar World Cup’ Ever since Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 World Cup, alcohol has given the country headaches. The conservative Arab Gulf nation severely restricts both the sale and usage of alcohol.
However, FIFA has a history of defending its business interests, and since the 1986 tournament in Mexico, Budweiser has been one of FIFA’s most prominent sponsors, making drinking an integral element of the quadrennial celebrations almost as much as the sport itself.
Initially, Qatar had promised to loosen its restrictions on the sale and availability of alcohol during the World Cup. Budweiser, which has the sole permission to sell alcohol at the soccer tournament, was abruptly ordered last week, just eight days before the opening ceremonies on Nov. 20, to relocate its beer shops at stadium concourses to more covert positions. According to unnamed sources who spoke to The New York Times, the abrupt order was given by a member of the Qatari royal family—specifically, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the emir’s brother—out of concern that having too much alcohol on hand would upset the community and compromise security.
Just two days before the opening game, on Friday, the Associated Press reported that the World Cup’s administrators had chosen to outright forbid the sale of alcoholic beverages in any of the tournament’s eight stadiums.
Budweiser responded on Twitter on Friday with the now-deleted phrase “Well, this is embarrassing.” Later, FIFA tweeted: “The tournament organizers appreciate [Budweiser parent company] AB InBev’s understanding and continued support to our joint commitment to cater for everyone during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.” FIFA later posted a statement on behalf of Qatar and the soccer governing body confirming the ban.
What you should know about alcohol sales at the World Cup in Qatar is detailed below.
Drinking Alcohol at the Qatar World Cup: What are Qatar’s rules on drinking?
Qatar is not completely dry, unlike its only neighbor Saudi Arabia, but it does have stringent alcohol laws. Alcohol use is “not part of local culture” in Qatar, according to the World Cup cultural awareness guidelines, and is only provided to non-Muslims over the age of 21 at establishments with a license. In Qatar, there is only one liquor store that is open to non-Muslim citizens. Alcohol imports from abroad are also prohibited in Qatar. Fans who violate these regulations risk deportation or fines of up to 3,000 riyal ($823). However, it’s unclear how strictly law enforcement would apply these regulations throughout the event.
Drinking restrictions had been loosened for the competition. Normally, it is against the law to drink or be intoxicated in public, but supporters in Qatar will be permitted to do so after 6:30 p.m. if there aren’t any last-minute changes to the rules.
For spectators who are inebriated, there will be designated sobering-up areas, according to ESPN. Nasser Al Khater, the head of Qatar’s World Cup preparations, called them “a place to make sure that they keep themselves secure, that they’re not damaging to anyone else.”
