Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
The head of Qatar’s safety and security committee announced that fans traveling to the 2022 World Cup will not be allowed to bring alcohol into the nation for personal consumption, adding that “particular mechanisms” are in place to take action against anyone trying to smuggle alcohol in their luggage.
Alcohol is strictly prohibited in Qatar; however, it is available for purchase inside hotels, and the supreme committee in charge of the tournament has agreed to make beer, provided by World Cup sponsor Budweiser, available at stadiums and in fan zones during the tournament, which starts on Nov. 20. Drinking in public can result in fines of up to 3,000 riyals (£720) or prison sentences of up to six months.
The early phases of Russia 2018 saw heavy alcohol consumption, and several Moscow bars ran out of beer as partygoers from around the globe partied in the Russian capital.
However, the Qatari authorities have stated that alcohol availability will be limited to designated areas only and that fans will not be allowed to bring their own alcohol. This is despite the fact that football fan culture in many regions of the world involves drinking alcohol before, during, and after games.
Col. Jassim Abdulrahim Al Sayed of the safety and security operations committee told ESPN at a news conference in Doha that “there are certain precautions.” “I believe that alcohol will not be permitted through the airport or in checked baggage.” All around the nation, there are places where alcohol is sold.
Despite some games starting earlier in the day, alcohol will not be served at the tournament’s major fanfest until after 6:30 p.m.
However, Nasser Al Khater, the chief executive of Qatar 2022, has asked spectators to only drink in the designated locations.
Alcohol sales in stadiums and designated areas are misunderstood, according to Al Khater. “We are operating as we would during any previous World Cup.
“Very simply, we have always indicated that the sale of alcohol [would be] allowed in Qatar and will make it available in specified zones.
“The fanfest will begin serving at 6:30 p.m., but because it will draw a lot of families and kids, we want to give them the chance to spend some of the day in an alcohol-free area. The fans will have easy access to alcohol later.
