Alcohol may be kept out of stadiums at Qatar World Cup: report
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The availability of alcohol is a major discussion ahead of Qatar World Cup as drinking in public is illegal in the conservative nation.
Sources linked to the event told AFP that alcohol may be available inside stadiums. It will be sold only at selected fan zones for a few hours late at night. According to the FIFA website, beer, champagne, wine, and spirits will be served in VIP lounges at the World Cup stadiums. Beer will be on sale outside the venues before and after games.
A limited number of fan sites from 10 pm to 1 pm may also serve alcohol. The FIFA fan zone is designed for about 40,000 people in central Doha. It is expected to offer alcohol for a restricted period.
Doha Golf Club and the InterContinental Beach and Spa are also areas with international beverages. Both venues are outside the city centre. Earlier this year, a source told AFP that beer will cost about six dollars in fan zones. It is 50% lower than the price of about $12 in Doha's hotels.
In Qatar, alcohol is confined to bars and restaurants in certain hotels. Outsiders are not allowed to transport it to the country. Non-Muslim expatriates with a special licence can buy spirits in a shop outside Doha.
This will be the Middle East's first World Cup. It was moved to the winter dates of November 21 to December 18 to avoid Qatar's summer.
