Qatar has Banned all Beer from the 2022 FIFA World Cup

Another last-minute decision in Qatar prohibits the sale of beer at the stadium. Budweiser cannot be pleased
Earlier this week, Qatari officials made a last-minute statement that jeopardized the World Cup's long-standing partnership with Budweiser. As previously reported, despite FIFA having more than a decade to figure out how to balance the league's commitment to Budweiser with Qatar's strict alcohol guidelines, the association informed Budweiser just eight days before the World Cup that all beer tents must be relocated from inside the stadium to much less visible and accessible locations outside the stadium. And now, just two days before the World Cup begins on Sunday, The New York Times reports that beer will be prohibited entirely from games throughout the month-long competition.

How to Drink in Qatar During the World Cup in 2022

According to FIFA, there will still be specified locations where alcohol will be sold, such as the FIFA Fan Festival, as well as other fan attractions and licensed establishments. This is consistent with Qatar's standard liquor regulation, which restricts the sale of any alcohol to bars linked with high-end hotels. The whole drinking culture in Qatar is designed to placate 

Visitors who are drinking should be aware of two important laws: public intoxication is prohibited, and bringing alcohol into Qatar is prohibited, even from the airport's duty-free sector, according to Reuters. Tourists can also expect to spend a lot of money. The average price for a 16-oz. Budweiser costs $15 in Qatari bars. In Qatar, there is just one liquor store, and you must schedule an appointment to shop there.

The Impact of the World Cup Beer Ban on Budweiser and FIFA

These two large brands are in peril. Budweiser, which paid $75 million to sponsor this year's World Cup, is losing out on significant sales and publicity, the two key benefits of being the beer sponsor of such a huge sporting event. FIFA is in hot water not just with Budweiser for generating this problem, but also with soccer fans traveling from all over the world to attend a tournament where they expected to be allowed to drink beer.

The decision to hold the games in Qatar has been met with criticism from the start, with concerns raised about press freedom, street protests, and the rights of LGBTQ+ visitors, not to mention the fact that the tournament had to be pushed back by five months just to avoid Qatar's 100-plus-degree summer daytime temperatures. Fans who chose to attend the World Cup despite their reservations were already braced for various limitations, high fees, and hassles associated with housing and transit around the tournament, only to be given a last blow at the last minute.

"Some fans enjoy a beer at a game, while others do not," The Football Supporters' Association stated in a statement to The New York Times.

It's also a stark contrast to FIFA's conduct during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. According to the BBC, FIFA urged that the country amend its laws—alcohol had been forbidden at football events since 2003 until FIFA lobbying resulted in a legislative reform that permitted beer to be sold during World Cup games. Many people are questioning why Qatar hasn't been subjected to the same kind of scrutiny.

Budweiser's official Twitter account summed up the situation concisely in a now-deleted tweet: "Well, this is awkward..."
For the time being, logo-free white tents are being explored for the "beer" tents around the stadium, albeit the coolers will only carry Bud Zero and other non-alcoholic beverages for game spectators. Those watching from home may still drink as much as they want, keeping the World Cup's beer-soaked tradition alive from afar.

#Quatar #WorldCup #WorldCup2022 #Budweiser #FIFA
SOURCE: thetakeout
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