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

The hypocrisy of people travelling to a country with a human rights record like that, openly complaining about their rights to have a beer in a stadium ''because that's what was advertised'' is astounding. Aren't they embarrassed?

I have just had a quick google about ticket sales and it appears that most matches have been sold out.

But Dutch people were never told they could buy it, then had that option rescinded at the last minute.

What a stupid comparison.

Yes, so many issues with it.

Most are much worse. But this is still an issue too, whether you like it or not.

Because the Qataris aren't exactly renowned for their honesty and fairness? And do what the hell they like and get away with it

Like FIFA? They sound like a match made in heaven.

I think some folks are getting all uptight about oh do you need to drink then and totally missing rhe point,

the point is Qatar agreed to this, they wanted the World Cup, they agreed to beer being served, within their own construct Ie max 4 pints per person and high prices as it’s taxed heavily. Two days before hand they have changed their minds. This is what is not acceptable they agreed rhis a long time ago, then at the last min said no. The stands will be set up, the product in country the staff hired, the equipment there, the contract has been signed. You can’t ageee it and then say nah just kidding.

Thanks for that..I was never a resident in the Gulf but I was a frequent visitor to a few of the countries and that ties in with my memories.

The impression that some seem to have that the Gulf countries are totally dry, that isn't quite right (thinks for example of Bahrain though that might have changed).............

Personally this isn't a grumble not about the booze (especially as we're talking Budweiser...), it's about the last minute change to the arrangements.

Yes so a country is going to change its laws because of a Budweiser contract with football, their country there rules end of.

They can change them when ever they like, dont like it dont go. This thread is hillarious, I cant have my beer waaaaa.

The human rights abuses, slave labour and attitudes to gay people have been front and centre of the news about the tournament.

In spite of this there are some people who still go to the tournament, they'll go to any tournament I guess, and Qatar and other gulf states have become/are trying to become popular holiday/shopping/Instagram destinations. So there's definitely a demographic that just doesn't give a fuck about stuff like that. See also clothes and food. The consumerist world is full of unethical choices.

It's hard to sympathise, but they're still stiffing people and I bet loads of the people whining about them have some pretty unethical decisions in their cupboards and drawers at home.

Yes I would. If I was a football fan having saved up to go to the world Cup with my mates and then suddenly told I couldn't have beer whilst I watch the game I'd be pissed off. Why is that so surprising? Is it because its alcohol?

Nope. I'd think it was incredibly dramatic if it was coke or water or coffee too.

If I really loved football I’d be going for the football.

I get that. But I’ve lived in the gulf. It’s suprises me that this is a shock to anyone. Predictable rule of law/keeping of contracts is not a feature! This is the way things work. Rules change, rules are applied differently to different people, bribes are common place, status means you’re given special treatment.

Yeah this ‘sudden’ decision is shit but far more shit is that some people are treated as subhuman. And I saw the orginal supposed ‘plan’ about alcohol and knew straight away it was unlikely go down like that. Friends still overseas all said the same. I think anyone who thought any guarantee was really guaranteed is very naive.

YANBU ofc, their country, their rules.

This

Qatar agreed to beer being sold by Budweiser and now want it to stop. Alcohol is sold in plenty of Qatar hotels so don’t pretend they don’t have alcohol. Don’t want beer at a World Cup, don’t have the World Cup in you shithole country. They’re also still selling alcohol in the overpriced boxes. Hypocritical twats.

Yes, because that’s what so many of us have said is the problem isn’t it.

’No beer, waaaaaa’

Breaks almost over - back to class now!

I assume they'll still serve soft drinks and water - so it's not as if people are expected to go without anything to drink. No alcohol is a complete non-issue.
If the beer companies have been paid for their products and extra staff hired to serve are also still paid, again it's not an issue. The only problem would be if the companies supplying the product missed out on their payment, but I'm guessing they're protected by their contract.

There are SO so so many issues with World Cup being in Qater but this isn’t near the top of the list.

The reason why it is news is because Budweiser could essentially put Fifa in breach of contract, everyone knows it was all a back hander deal and Fifa are a corrupt organisation, remember France wanted to seel aribuses to Qatar!

The ship has sailed with it being held there, but the U-turn is news precisly because it could cost Fifa loads, there is probably a lot more brown envelopes being passed around at the miunte.

And if anyone thinks it is just the brits complaining, then you are seriously downplaying the rest of european fans who are equally pissed with U-turn.

Hilarious. Serves everyone right.

So there's definitely a demographic that just doesn't give a fuck about stuff like that. See also clothes and food. The consumerist world is full of unethical choices.

'Ethical' means different things for different people Not everyone will agree with the 'virtue signalling' crowd

Seems a bit stupid to have budweiser sponsor in a muslim country. Perhaps they should've gone with a completely different sponsor.
It'll be interesting to see how much the fans behaviour changes without extra alcohol available or will it mean they spend hours beforehand drinking instead?

I think Qatar are being totally awkward but hey, it was never the right place for the WC. This is just another reason to add to the list.

On the plus side it will ensure that it never goes back anywhere near there.

They are paying fans - fake fans - to fill seats for Christ sake!

Yes so a country is going to change its laws because of a Budweiser contract with football, their country there rules end of.
They can change them when ever they like, dont like it dont go. This thread is hillarious, I cant have my beer waaaaa.

Next up, Women can't enter the stadium....

I grew up in the Gulf, I believe Sharjah and Yemen are totally dry.

We had (well my parents had) a liquor licence, and you could only spend a certain percentage of your salary on alcohol. Hotels, clubs on compounds etc all had alcohol and definitely frequented by locals. Money talks and there was plenty of alcohol available when we started going to house parties.

I do remember stories of teachers coming down for school matches from Saudi or Doha and smuggling back alcohol in shampoo bottles, and of brewing their own on compounds at scale in septic tanks.

Once there's alcohol, that's when we see the worse of people especially the brits who are known for this. If anything, it actually protects the visitors having to be arrested after drinking and displaying rowdy behaviour so to me, it's a blessing in disguise. You can drink in Qatar otherwise not many expats would move there if that was the case. But I still thinks it's the worse place they could have picked to host with a country who has no football history and of course the political and ethical aspects as well. By the way, it's wrong to change their mind last min but I'm sure they can afford that if Bud sues them.