In a reversal, alcoholic beer is not going to be offered at Qatar’s World Cup stadiums, world soccer governing physique FIFA mentioned in a press release on Friday.
The announcement comes two days earlier than Sunday’s kick-off of the World Cup, the primary to be held within the Muslim nation with strict controls on alcohol, the consumption of which is banned in public.
“Following discussions between host nation authorities and FIFA, a call has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic drinks on the FIFA Fan Pageant, different fan locations and licensed venues, eradicating gross sales factors of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters,” a FIFA spokesperson mentioned within the assertion.
Budweiser, a serious World Cup sponsor, owned by beer maker AB InBev, was to completely promote alcoholic beer inside the ticketed perimeter surrounding every of the eight stadiums three hours earlier than and one hour after every sport.
“Event organisers admire AB InBev’s understanding and steady help to our joint dedication to cater for everybody throughout the FIFA World Cup,” the assertion mentioned.
The reversal of that coverage comes after long-term negotiations between FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Budweiser, and executives from Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Supply and Legacy (SC), which is organising the World Cup, a supply with information of the negotiations informed Reuters on situation of anonymity.
“A bigger variety of followers are attending from throughout the Center East and South Asia, the place alcohol doesn’t play such a big function within the tradition,” the supply mentioned.
“The pondering was that, for a lot of followers, the presence of alcohol wouldn’t create an pleasing expertise.”
Alcohol will nonetheless be served contained in the stadium hospitality zones, the supply added.
Budweiser will promote its non-alcoholic beer all through the stadium precincts, the assertion mentioned.
Neither Budweiser nor the SC responded to Reuters’ request for remark.
Questions have swirled across the function alcohol would play at this yr’s World Cup since Qatar received internet hosting rights in 2010. Whereas not a “dry” state like neighbouring Saudi Arabia, consuming alcohol in public locations is against the law in Qatar.
Guests can not convey alcohol into Qatar, even from the airport’s responsibility free part, and most can not purchase alcohol on the nation’s solely liquor retailer. Alcohol is offered in bars at some resorts, the place beer prices round $15 per half-litre.
Budweiser will nonetheless promote alcoholic beer on the major FIFA Fan Fest in central Doha, the supply mentioned, the place it’s supplied for about $14 per half pint. Alcohol may also be offered in another fan zones whereas others are alcohol-free.
“Followers can resolve the place they need to go with out feeling uncomfortable. At stadiums, this was beforehand not the case,” the supply mentioned.