In addition to luxurious resorts, alcohol is being served on the Liquor retailer in Qatar. AP
In a dusty neighborhood on the outskirts of Qatar’s capital, guards stand obligation at a gated compound ringed with razor wire, rigorously checking passports and permits earlier than permitting anybody inside. However this isn’t a jail or a high-security space related to the continuing World Cup.
It’s the liquor retailer.
Inflexible limits on alcohol are a reality of life on this conservative Muslim nation on the Arabian Peninsula, which follows the identical strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam as its neighbor Saudi Arabia. Soccer followers coming to Qatar for the World Cup bought a style of that simply earlier than the match as authorities cancelled beer gross sales at stadiums.
But corks proceed to be popped in luxurious bins at video games. Followers are filling pints from beer towers at dozens of lodge bars, lounges, and nightclubs with liquor licenses. Gross sales of $14 Budweisers at Doha’s FIFA Fan Zone proceed unabated.
“To not say that you simply want alcohol to gasoline your life, but it surely’s time,” mentioned Ed Ball, an American who created an internet map for imbibers in Doha to seek out bars. “The concept being handed round that you could’t drink in Qatar is unsuitable. There are locations.”
Along with the bars, there’s the liquor retailer the place non-Muslim residents and guests can store after making use of for a government-issued license. Situated subsequent to an Indian college in Doha’s dusty Abu Hamour neighborhood, it’s run by the Qatar Distribution Co., a state-owned enterprise beneath the umbrella of Qatar Airways, which holds unique rights to distribute alcohol and pork within the nation.
The shop — at the moment the one one promoting liquor in Qatar — operates on an appointment system, harkening again to the strict coronavirus rules that ruled this nation prior to simply earlier than the World Cup.
On a current go to, guards twice checked an Related Press reporter’s identifications and appointments. Razor wire tops the compound’s excessive partitions, which bar the general public from a peek inside. Indicators warn that any abuse aimed on the guards can lead to an alcohol license being revoked. Empty silver-colored beer kegs are piled up within the parking zone.
On the finish of a chlorine-scented walkway, clients attain the doorway to the shop. Inside, the cabinets and stands are stocked with bottles of wine largely working from $12.50 as much as $45. A liter of Absolut vodka goes for $42, whereas a liter of Jack Daniels whiskey units a client again $70. A 24-pack of ordinary Budweiser cans prices practically $52.
A small part of the shop affords frozen pork pepperoni pizzas, slabs of bacon, Spam and cans of pork and beans.
Prospects stuffed their carts or carried bottles and cans of their arms, checking towards purchasing lists or texting members of the family to double verify what was wanted. A number of wore FIFA passes for the match round their necks.
Outdoors the store, a 31-year-old British lady who works as a faculty instructor in Qatar, stuffed the trunk of her automobile. She declined to supply her title, given the connotations ingesting can carry in Qatari society, however dismissed criticism surrounding ingesting and the match.
“It’s actually not that large of a deal,” she mentioned of the licensing system in Qatar. “It’s like going to the grocery store — for alcohol.”
She added that she thought the restrictions on gross sales for the matches additionally made sense. “I’m British. I do know what it’s wish to to be round drunk individuals on a regular basis.”
Throughout the broader Persian Gulf, alcohol stays banned in Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the sheikhdom of Sharjah within the United Arab Emirates. Ingesting alcohol is taken into account haram, or forbidden, in Islam. Imams level to a verse within the Quran calling wine “the work of Devil.”
However the area as a complete has a protracted historical past with alcohol, itself an Arabic phrase. The eighth century poet Abu Nawas even was recognized for his “khamriyyat,” or “wine poems.”
Each alcohol and pork face a 100% import obligation. Qatar says it makes use of the tax income to enhance well being care, infrastructure, training and different public companies.
Guests usually are not allowed to convey alcohol into the nation. Many resorts are dry and prohibit company from bringing alcohol to their rooms.
Ball’s on-line map of bars in Qatar has been seen over 875,000 instances. An accompanying Twitter account reveals him downing two pints of beer in 10 seconds.
“For me, ingesting is rather like consuming. It simply goes together with the tradition,” Ball instructed the AP after returning dwelling to Seattle, the place he works for Boeing Co. “I do know it’s not a part of Qatar … but it surely’s additionally a part of the World Cup. One of many greatest sponsors is Budweiser so it simply goes to indicate you it form of goes hand in hand.”
Bars in Qatar sometimes scan IDs of these heading in, with many engaged on a voucher system through the match to verify followers spend a minimum of specific amount.
On Saturday night time, a gaggle of Russians screamed expletives on the U.S. crew throughout its match with the Netherlands as they downed photographs and posed for images with servers at Doha’s Irish Harp.
Dermot O’Callaghan, a 66-year-old soccer fan from Dublin, Eire, loved a a lot calmer pint on the bar, swaying alongside to the Cuban band Chicas Melao.
“It’s very gratifying, you may get a drink right here if you would like within the evenings,” O’Callaghan mentioned. “You do have a cohort of followers roaming round, on the lookout for a drink.”