Qatar's World Cup beer restriction draws internet chatter

nokina 2024-12-22 01:14:34

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As the Qatar World Cup's end date nears the end of the year, the global event has not only caused a lot of inconvenience, but has also sparked an uproar due to a number of local taboos. One of the most notable is the severe restriction on the sale of beer, which has provoked an outcry from fans. The organizing committee recently issued a beer restriction order, allowing the sale of beer only during certain periods before and after the games, which drew widespread condemnation from netizens.

According to foreign media, the organizing committee stipulated that the sale of beer is strictly prohibited during the game, and only allowed to open sales three hours before the game and one hour after the game. This seemingly illogical ban is difficult for outsiders to understand. However, Budweiser, the sponsor of the tournament, had to respond to this.

Outside the competition venues, Budweiser is only allowed to serve beer in the main fan zone in downtown Doha from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily during the 29-day World Cup, with sales prohibited at other times. The arrangement is in stark contrast to the 24/7 availability of beer in fan zones at previous World Cup events, and comes with a hefty price tag, reportedly selling for as much as $18 per half-liter of beer.

A Budweiser spokesperson released a statement saying, "We are in close communication with the FIFA, which is consulting with the Qatari authorities to ensure that our sponsorship is honored while complying with local rules and regulations."

In the face of the alcohol restriction, netizens were in high spirits, leaving comments like, "It's a real pain in the ass to host the World Cup in such an extreme region." "It's understandable that you don't eat pork, but you're not even allowed to drink beer?" "Qatar can host the World Cup, but even beer is not allowed to drink?"

In addition to the restriction of alcohol, Qatar has also been rumored during the World Cup will be implemented during the "busking ban", after the game party and non-couple sex are illegal, triggering the intervention of the International Football Association to explain.

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