It's official: The sale of beer is banned at World Cup stadiums in Qatar. Only non-alcoholic beverages will be sold at the venues.
World Cup beer sponsor Budweiser says the restriction is "beyond our control".Qatar banned the sale of beer at World Cup stadiums on Friday, a sudden U-turn on the deal the conservative Muslim emirate made to secure the football tournament with only two days to go before the opening game.
But the vast majority of ticket holders don't have access to those areas; they will be able to drink alcoholic beer in the evenings in what is known as the FIFA Fan Festival, a designated party area that also offers live music and activities. Outside of the tournament-run areas, Qatar puts strict limits on the purchase and consumption of alcohol, though its sale has been permitted in hotel bars for years.
But Federico Ferraz lamented that the decision came on such short notice. "I think it's a bit bad because for me, beer and football go hand in hand," said Ferraz, who was visiting from Portugal."Respecting cultures works both ways, this isn't just about alcohol," wrote Tom Wells on Twitter.As the news broke, Budweiser's Twitter account tweeted: "Well, this is awkward..." without elaborating. The tweet was later deleted.
The company's partnership with FIFA started at the 1986 tournament, and they are in negotiations for renewing their deal for the next World Cup in North America.
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