To think that alcohol ban in Qatar shouldn’t be a shock

[Laurendelaney1987]

The Newspapers are reporting that alcohol will not be served in stadiums during the World Cup.

I don’t understand the uproar: it’s a Muslim country: if you go there you shouldn’t expect to be drinking. Visitors have a choice of whether to visit or not, and Qatar are quite right to not want lots of drunks causing mayhem.

There are many many issues with hosting the World Cup in Qatar: but I don’t think this is a big one

I'll say first off that as a fervent football fan I have complained long and hard about Qatar given this, or any, World Cup. And I certainly will not be watching/following.

On topic, I see they have finally confirmed no alcohol in stadiums....except for the fucking corporate freeloaders!!!

Seems so! (Bud is like water anyway)

It could be coffee/tea/coke/water... anything. You[d be fine for 90 minutes without all of these too.

To add, everyone knows it's a Muslim country so why alcohol in the first place? God knows. And yes, Budweiser are sponsors. Tough shit.

To add, everyone knows it's a Muslim country so why alcohol in the first place? God knows. And yes, Budweiser are sponsors. Tough shit

Because it was an agreement to hosting the world cup that Budweiser would be sold. They are breaking a contract.

everyone knows it's a Muslim country so why alcohol in the first place

Because as has been pointed out umpteen times upthread alcohol is legitimately available in many "Muslim countries", including many around the Gulf.

Tennis players play in this heat as they have tournaments in this part of the world.

All the tried-and-tested excuses already being carted out.

Playing Devil’s Advocate… it could be argued that booze is part of football culture- hence one of their biggest sponsors being a beer brand- and if the QRF weren’t prepared to accept that then Qatar shouldn’t have bid to host the WC in the first place?

Yanbu at all - it's a Muslim country and their norms should be respected if a person chooses to go there - attendance is not compulsory. Can you imagine the severity of the punishment for someone becoming drunk and disorderly/offensive? It's really best not to have alcohol there for everyone's sakes.

On topic, I see they have finally confirmed no alcohol in stadiums....except for the fucking corporate freeloaders!!!

Yeah, it blows a hole in a lot of PP arguments of 'their country, their rules, wahhh they can't drink a beer'

Adding to the many voices saying that the absence of alcohol is not an issue. The human and environmental cost of the World Cup is despicable.

The England team should be utterly ashamed at being there. I hope they are shunned when they return, whatever the result.

Qatar should never have been allowed to host - they've caused problems from the minute it was first announced.

I hope Budweiser sue. Changing the rules last minute doesn’t seem very professional.

And of course compared to all the other issues about Qatar hosting it’s not a big one, but it’s making headlines and I think as many people pointing out the issues in Qatar being selected the better..

As disappointing as it is that this is where the line seems to be, I will be happy with the outcome if it results in boycotts. I am doubtful that they had any ntwnti

I think not drinking alcohol is the least of people's worries visiting this country. Shouldn't even be held there, a place like this shouldn't be given the platform to host.

I know the hospitality box situation was mentioned upthread but maybe worth repeating ...

"The sale of alcohol is strictly controlled in Qatar, a conservative Muslim nation, but organisers had promised that it would be available in match venues and in fan zones....However it has now decided that alcohol will be available at matches only in hospitality boxes, where the cheapest suites are nearly £20,000 a match,*
(my emphasis)

So an exception will be allowed from what some imagine is a supposed local custom, for a few, at a price..

www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/18/qatar-bans-beer-from-world-cup-stadiums-fifa-u-turn

But now I think they have really shot themselves in the foot.

The first WC I have ever not been excited about.

Damp squib.

Posted too soon, meant to say I am doubtful that they had any intention of serving alcohol. Far more likely that they planned to do this.

Fuck anyone who is now upset about this quite frankly, they were already happy to throw money at a country that pisses all over human rights.

Yes, lots of denial in this country. We live in a society where we want and expect instant availability for services 24/7 (takeout, shopping, taxis) and conveniently forget that the people working behind the scenes to facilitate that are often enslaved. But as long as we get our Deliveroo promptly tonight who cares? It’s far easier to cast our eye outwards and condemn governments in “shithole” countries (nice bit of xenophobia going on within this thread too).

Maybe there are people in Qatar who are horrified that so many of our children, who live in one of the richest countries in the world, arrive at school hungry. Literally starving. It’s a fucking disgrace. They might look at elderly people dying in hospital corridors and conclude it’s a bit of a shithole here.

And as a PP pointed out, we are not enlightened when it comes to gay rights in this country. The last top flight footballer who came out ended up committing suicide. Not a single premiere league footballer has dared to since and that was decades ago.

Qatar is a dictatorship for sure. But we’ve had a second unelected PM foisted on us in as many months so not exactly a beaming light of democracy.

I wish the hand wringers who are quite rightly upset at Qatar would look a bit closer to home.

How can Wales play any normal country in summer? That’s not really all that hot.

The thing here is that a contract is getting broken, it was negotiated years ago and there should have been no surprises.

It's about contractual obligations. Surely the Qataris what Budweiser sells and Budweiser knew what Qatar's stance on alcohol is? And FIFA was aware of both?

I think they all troll each other, I'm afraid.

Agree....'respect their culture' my arse.....Lived with 2 BA flight attendants who did UAE long hauls, the arab men would drink the PLANE DRY on return to UK

You really think the UK and Qatar are comparable where human rights are concerned?

I'll have what you're on.

Agree 100%

Apparently Budweoser have tweeted 'well thats awkward' I look forward to them suing Fifa and all who sail in the corrupt ship.

If this is the Qatari attempt to bring down fifa, then I'm all for it! (Disclaimer, I don't think it is, but it might have some effect...)