In a dusty neighbourhood on the outskirts of Qatar’s capital, guards stand responsibility 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 truth of life on this conservative Muslim nation on the Arabian Peninsula, which follows the identical strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam as its neighbour Saudi Arabia. Soccer followers coming to Qatar for the World Cup obtained 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 containers at video games. Followers are filling pints from beer towers at dozens of lodge bars, lounges and nightclubs with liquor licenses. Gross sales of USD 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 a great time,” mentioned Ed Ball, an American who created a web-based map for imbibers in Doha to seek out bars.
“The concept being handed round you can’t drink in Qatar is flawed. 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. Positioned subsequent to an Indian faculty in Doha’s dusty Abu Hamour neighbourhood, it’s run by the Qatar Distribution Co, a state-owned enterprise underneath the umbrella of Qatar Airways, which holds unique rights to distribute alcohol and pork within the nation.
The shop — at present the one one promoting liquor in Qatar — operates on an appointment system, harkening again to the strict coronavirus laws that ruled this nation prior to only 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 may end up in an alcohol license being revoked. Empty silver-coloured beer kegs are piled up within the car 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 USD 12.50 as much as USD 45. A litre of Absolut vodka goes for USD 42, whereas a litre of Jack Daniels whiskey units a consumer again USD 70. A 24-pack of normal Budweiser cans prices almost USD 52.
A small part of the shop provides 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 palms, checking in opposition to 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 girl who works as a faculty instructor in Qatar, stuffed the trunk of her automobile. She declined to supply her title, given the connotations consuming can carry in Qatari society, however dismissed criticism surrounding consuming 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 folks 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 an extended historical past with alcohol, itself an Arabic phrase. The eighth century poet Abu Nawas even was identified for his “khamriyyat,” or “wine poems.” Each alcohol and pork face a 100 per cent import responsibility. Qatar says it makes use of the tax income to enhance well being care, infrastructure, training and different public companies.
Guests will not be allowed to carry alcohol into the nation. Many inns are dry and prohibit friends from bringing alcohol to their rooms.Ball’s on-line map of bars in Qatar has been seen over 875,000 occasions. An accompanying Twitter account exhibits him downing two pints of beer in 10 seconds.
“For me, consuming is rather like consuming. It simply goes together with the tradition,” Ball advised 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 point out you it type of goes hand in hand.” Bars in Qatar usually scan IDs of these heading in, with many engaged on a voucher system in the course of the match to verify followers spend at the very least certain quantity.
On Saturday night time, a gaggle of Russians screamed expletives on the US staff throughout its match with the Netherlands as they downed pictures and posed for pictures 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 pleasant, 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.”