Qatar World Cup: Organizers to ban alcoholic beer sales at stadiums

 

Qatar is hosting the World Cup 2022, and that means some significant changes to the laws. The Qatar Distribution Company (a drinks distribution company) has announced that alcoholic beer sales at sports stadiums in Doha will be banned during Qatar's World Cup 2022.

 

The ban will be in place for the duration of Qatar’s coming hosting of the tournament, but alcohol sales and consumption will still be allowed in other public places.

"The Doha Municipality and the Qatar Distribution Company have agreed on a number of measures to ensure the provision of alcohol during the World Cup, including a ban on alcoholic sales in stadiums,” said Mohammed Al-Sada, CEO of the QDC.

“As part of this agreement, we have asked all beer producers to give us a list of beers that will not contain alcohol. Then we will not allow these beers to be sold and we will not drink them in public places either."

Alcoholic beer sales at stadiums are prohibited due to safety concerns, but Al-Sada had an interesting explanation for why other parts of Doha would be affected.

"In the end, we decided to ban alcoholic beer sales entirely," Al-Sada said. "However, if you watch a football match in a Qatari stadium, it will not be alcohol-free."

As noted above, alcohol still remains legal throughout Qatar. The CDC's decision just affects public stadium areas. In other parts of the country during the cup run, Qataris will be able to enjoy a beer or two during their time away from their TVs. 

Qatari newspaper Al-Sharq reports that customers hoping to enjoy a beer at any of Doha's stadiums will instead have to grab a soft drink instead. And since alcohol is not allowed to be consumed in public areas, football fans will have to procure their brews pre-game.

Alcoholic beverages are banned from airports and all airplanes in Qatar, as well as other public spaces throughout the country, but Qatari officials still say they hope to make the Cup a fun experience for everyone involved.

A Qatari official admitted that lifting the ban on alcohol sales during the World Cup might seem ironic when juxtaposed with Islamic law (and considering Arabic tradition), but he said that while citizens adhere to those laws, they do so with ease and joy.

"It is a great surprise for many people, let's take it that way, in a good way," Major General Saif Al-Thani told the AFP news agency. "It can happen and it can't happen. And we should not lose our joy."

Qataris aren't the only ones who are cracking open a cold one during their time off from watching soccer. A section of Canada's Middle East population will also have no trouble finding beer or booze to hold them over during their busy summer schedule. 

"The decision is not to ban 'alcohol' in the context of Qatar 2022 World Cup, but to ban alcohol sales at stadiums during an event that involves large numbers of young fans," said the QDC. "We hope this will reassure those who may be concerned that alcoholic beers are being sold in stadiums."

Saudi Arabia also bans the sale of alcohol in public spaces during time periods when it is prohibited by Islamic law. The official website for the country's World Cup organizing committee claims that this "will ensure that all people enjoy themselves and have a good time without any unnecessary restrictions."  The website adds: "Alcohol will remain available throughout Qatar, as it is now, but only at licensed restaurants, hotels, and other approved outlets. It is not allowed in public areas, including stadiums and grandstands."

Alcohol will still be sold in Qatar throughout the month of June, before the Cup begins on June 21. Al-Sharq reports that alcohol sales at stadiums will not begin until the first match is played, and they will be limited to beer, wine, and soft drinks.

The QDC claims that it is unfair to ban alcohol sales during a sporting event that has millions of fans focused on one thing: The World Cup.

"Alcohol is sold in Qatar every day by hundreds of food stalls and restaurants," said assistant general manager Mohammed Al-Ghanim, "so it’s unfair to expect people to stop drinking at stadiums. What if you’re watching a game in the stadium and you cannot get a beer because it is banned?"

One customer agrees: "I can understand why Qatar might want to do this, but why should I suffer for their desire for more fan spectators? If I want to drink during the World Cup, my money will buy me alcohol."

Nasser Al-Khayat, an official at Qatar's Ministry of Municipalities is not opposed to the idea of alcohol sales being banned during the cup. "We’re just trying something new," he said. "A World Cup is an event that should be unique so that everyone can enjoy it and have fun."

However, some people will definitely be missing out. Sports fans in Qatar and Saudi Arabia have long been known for their happy drinking habits.

In 2015, Al-Arabiya news organization reported that Qatar's Ministry of Interior investigated the alcohol consumption of foreigners in the country and found that bars were packed with hundreds of Qatari men, who were drinking beer and wine for hours on end.

Saudi Arabia has also been known to ban alcohol in certain public areas and during certain times, but the latest story from Al-Arabiya seems to indicate that things are getting out of hand. 

It quotes a 22-year-old Saudi man named Ahmad as saying that he drank himself into a stupor at a bar near his university in Riyadh during an evening with his friends. "I had no idea that the laws here in Saudi Arabia were so strict," he said. "If I would have known, I would have never done it."

The young Saudis ordered several rounds of beer and liquor, but once the night was through, eight of them were arrested for leaving their alcohol-fueled pub crawl.

He said that he was forced to pay a fine of $300 and serve eight days in jail for his actions. "I understand the laws of my country and I respect them, but it's a bit much," he said.

"None of my friends will be going to bars from now on.