World Cup: Qatar bans alcohol sales in stadiums

DOHA – Fifa announced on Friday that beer will not be sold to fans around any of the eight World Cup stadiums following “discussions” with hosts Qatar.

It gave no reason for the stunning U-turn on the matter just before the tournament kicks on Sunday, but media reports said there had been an intervention by Qatar’s ruling family.

A Fifa statement said alcohol would be sold only in fan zones, “removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s Fifa World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters”.

“Following discussions between host country authorities and Fifa, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the Fifa Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues,” it said.

“There is no impact to the sale of Bud Zero (non-alcoholic beer) which will remain available at all Qatar’s World Cup stadiums.

“Host country authorities and Fifa will continue to ensure that the stadiums and surrounding areas provide an enjoyable, respectful and pleasant experience for all fans.”

The Qatar World Cup is the first to be held in a conservative Muslim country with strict controls on alcohol, the consumption of which is banned in public.

“A larger number of fans are attending from across the Middle East and South Asia, where alcohol doesn’t play such a large role in the culture,” a source with knowledge of the matter said ahead of the announcement.

“The thinking was that, for many fans, the presence of alcohol would not create an enjoyable experience.”

Belgium-based AB InBev, the parent company of American beer giant Budweiser, acknowledged the action taken but a spokesman said: “Some of the planned stadium activations cannot move forward due to circumstances beyond our control.”

Budweiser, a major World Cup sponsor with exclusive rights to sell beer at the tournament, was to sell alcoholic beer within the ticketed perimeter outside the eight stadiums three hours before and one hour after each game.

But the reversal of that policy comes after long-term negotiations between Fifa president Gianni Infantino, Budweiser and executives from Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, which is organising the World Cup, the source said.

Questions have swirled around the role alcohol would play at this World Cup – with more than a million fans expected – since Qatar won hosting rights in 2010.

Visitors cannot bring alcohol into the country, even from the airport’s duty free section, and most cannot buy alcohol at the country’s only liquor store. Alcohol is sold in bars at some hotels, where beer costs around US$15 (S$20.60) per half-litre.

Budweiser will still sell alcoholic beer at the main Fifa Fan Festival in central Doha, where it is offered for about US$14 per half pint. Alcohol will also be sold in some other fan zones whereas others are alcohol-free. AFP, REUTERS, BLOOMBERG