As the World Cup approaches in Qatar, not only is it causing a lot of distress around the globe, but its complex culture of taboos within the country is causing a lot of controversy. Restrictions on the sale of beer, in particular, have provoked an outcry from fans. The organizing committee recently released a policy restricting the purchase of beer to only be sold at specific times before and after the tournament kicks off, a decision that has sparked an avalanche of criticism online.
According to foreign media reports, the organizing committee rules, the sale of beer during the game is prohibited, only allowed to sell three hours before the start of the game and one hour after the game. This seemingly absurd ban is puzzling, but as a sponsor of the World Cup, Budweiser had to respond to it.
Outside of the competition venues, Budweiser will only be able to serve beer in the fan zone in downtown Doha from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily during the World Cup, and will be prohibited at other times. This arrangement is obviously a huge change for fans compared to previous World Cup tournaments and comes with a hefty price tag, with beer reportedly selling for as much as $18 per half-liter.
A Budweiser spokesperson released a statement saying, "We are in close communication with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to ensure that our sponsorships are respected and comply with local laws and regulations."
This restriction was followed by an internet scolding, "It's really too much trouble to hold the World Cup in an extreme region." "No pork is acceptable, but not even beer?" "Qatar can host the World Cup, but not even allowed to drink beer?"
In addition to the alcohol restrictions, Qatar has also been rumored to be implementing a "party ban" during the World Cup, which would make post-match parties and non-couple sex illegal, forcing FIFA to come forward with a clarification.
