Qatari officials have banned alcohol in the streets and public places during the 2022 FIFA World Cup with their sights set on outlawing booze from inside stadiums as well.
Secretary-general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Hassan Al Thawadi made it clear that Qatar will be no place for a drink when football fans converge on the nation in 2022.
“There will be no alcohol consumption on the streets, squares and public places and that is final,” Al Thawadi said.
“Availability of alcohol during the tournament will commensurate with our customs and traditions.”
While there could still be a chance alcohol will be made available inside stadiums, Al Thawadi was adamant in the organising committee’s push for a complete alcohol ban.
“Personally I’m against the provision of alcohol in stadiums,” he said.
“The (SCDL’s) goal was to narrow (alcohol) consumption to specific places, far away from public spaces.”
Currently, alcohol is only sold in licensed hotels in Qatar.
Residents who want to drink at home must have a permit before buying alcohol at the countries only liquor store, QDC. It is an offence to consume alcohol in public or be publicly drunk.
Alcohol was sold in stadiums during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at FIFA’s insistence after pressure from their sponsors such as brewer Budweiser.
Al Thawadi said the Qatar organising committee had not yet discussed the issues with FIFA.
