Qatar will not allow sports fans attending this year’s World Cup to purchase alcoholic beverages at any of the stadiums hosting the event.
The announcement comes only two days before the iconic soccer event will be held in the conservative Muslim country. The sales of alcoholic beverages, such as Budweiser, will be moved to a fan festival area and other licensed venues in the country, FIFA announced Friday.
WORLD CUP ORGANIZERS APOLOGIZE TO DANISH REPORTER WHO HAD LIVE SHOT INTERRUPTED
“Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters,” FIFA said in a statement.
Statement on beer sales at #WorldCup stadiums ?️ on behalf of FIFA and Host Country ??: pic.twitter.com/o4IEhboXks
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) November 18, 2022
The organizers of the tournament thanked AB InBev, the drink and brewing company that includes Budweiser, which is sponsoring the World Cup, for its understanding and support of FIFA’s “joint commitment to cater for everyone during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022,” the statement read.
“As partners of FIFA for over three decades, we look forward to our activations of FIFA World Cup™ campaigns around the world to celebrate football with our consumers,” an AB InBev spokesperson told the Washington Examiner. “Some of the planned stadium activations cannot move forward due to circumstances beyond our control.”
Nonalcoholic beverages, such as Bud Zero, will still be available for purchase at the stadiums. Meanwhile, beer will be available in suites for FIFA officials and wealthy guests, according to the New York Times.
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This year will mark the first time a Muslim country hosts the World Cup, and it is incredibly strict in its sale of alcoholic beverages. A person found drinking an alcoholic drink in a public place could face up to six months in prison in addition to a fine of QAR3,000, equal to roughly $824, according to Chronicle Live.
