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 feel no obligation to be particularly respectful to Qatar. It’s a brutally unpleasant country with ideas about women which I find abhorrent.
I just think it’s pretty moronic that booze in stadiums is the only thing people can get exercised about.

They can't sale the tickets, with the buyers expecting alcohol to be sold, then suddenly retract it. They need to refund the ticket sales and reimburse flights, hotels, tone booked off work. I'd be pissed off if I spent my money on the ticket then told its all changed.

Would people seriously not go if they now announce a complete ban on alcohol? That's quite pathetic really. Not that I wouldn't love the Qataris to suffer the embarrassment of lots of empty seats!

It's not just alcohol. There's also PDAs, loud music, swearing, extramarital sex, homosexuality, dressing "immodestly", filming people, criticising the royal family, etc.
And sanctions are far more severe than in the UK, including the death penalty for drug-related offences.
Why on earth FIFA thought this was a good idea is beyond me. I hope it massively backfires on them.
Thousands of people have lost their lives for this world cup. It's shameful.

They can't sale the tickets, with the buyers expecting alcohol to be sold, then suddenly retract it.
It's a Muslim country, it should be obvious that alcohol is frowned upon /banned.
People seriously need to educate themselves, if that sounds patronising, sorry but meh oh well.
I say this as someone who loves a drink or three

As others have said I think it’s them changing the agreement at the last minute that is the issue rather than the ban itself.

there again why anyone would want to go to such a place I don’t understand

Alcohol in stadiums is not the issue. Allowing an openly homophobic country with a terrible human rights record to host is.

This exactly

I already predict trouble with westerners getting arrested for drinking, lewd behaviour etc.

Why are you being so judgmental? It's up to them what they do with their free time. It's not even about the alcohol. You cannot sale a ticket with the pomise of something then change your 'mind'. If I bought a ticket for a roast turkey Christmas Dinner then was told 3 days before the event that is offal I'd want a refund.

It's up to them what they do with their free time.
Would usually completely agree, but you don't just go to a Muslim country and expect it to be fine to get pissed/have a few drinks.
It's nothing like not having turkey at your Christmas dinner!

Totally agree. It didn't surprise me one bit, although it seems to be a bit of a late rule considering Budweiser is the sponsor. But I don't blame them, like others have said, their country, their rules.

I think the issue is not no booze. It was only a 4 pint limit anyway at 12 pounds a pop. The issue is they made an agreement, and two days befor have changed their minds. If they didn’t want alcohol they should have said so right up front.

Budweiser is a sponsor, so yes, it is a surprise.

And you can drink in those countries in specially designated places.

The Qatari’s doing this is actually unbelievable within context.

FIFA is bent and are getting what they deserve.

I hope Budweiser sue the pants off them.

People forget you can drink in the Gulf.

There are rules around it - but foreigners can and do drink alcohol there.

Whilst I dont agree with many of their laws and their human rights, Its great to see a country that actually enforces its laws.

Funnily there will be a handful of brits whom get locked up and start crying about it on the news. About time most actually learn other countries are not as soft and broken as britain with its liberal elite.

I agree, the no alcohol in stadiums should have been the agreement at the outset.
Nobody would have been surprised at that.
I personally think they shouldn’t be hosting the World Cup. I wouldn’t go there even if I had free tickets, travel and accommodation, the treatment of women, slave labour and many of their rules are archaic and cruel.

You do if it's sold to you as Budwiser being the sponsor and implied you can buy beer at the stadium. The tickets have been falsely sold. Regardless of the country, or the product. It makes no odds.

This. No on sems to get it.

I don’t think not serving alcohol at the stadium is a huge problem. I think it’s fine. But did they not know until this week that it has been agreed?

I think the problem is that they are hosting an event where Budweiser are a main sponsor and they have already spent a fortune due to them saying they would allow it to be sold in the stadium.

Turning round, at the last minute saying they won’t allow it, is a problem.

How would people educating themselves facilitate them predicting that the Qataris would move the goalposts though?

As Budweiser are one of the main sponsors they should expect there to be alcohol be involved, they will have known this when they signed up.

They are now changing goalposts as it's too late for Fifa to do anything.

Don't forget women being blamed for being raped, we must respect that as well 🙄

I actually respect them for enforcing their rule when it comes to alcohol and not just bending it for holiday makers as they want your money like many places so!
Don't respect them for the way they treat people though, that's abhorrent and I wouldn't go for human rights issues not the fact I couldn't enjoy my usual glasses of wine

Sorry about typos. Phone screen is dying.

Glad somebody pointed that out... I was beginning to think I must have imagined having the odd glass of wine when I was in that part of the world.

It's the short notice change in arrangements that's causing these particular grumbles, including some from a major sponsor.

(and fundamentally I agree the tournament should never have been held in Qatar anyway but that's something that isn't going to change).