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Rabat – World Cup organizers in Qatar have finalized a policy allowing “ticketed fans to buy alcoholic beer” at the global tournament’s matches “three hours before kickoff and one hour after the final whistle,” Reuters reported today. Beer will not be served during matches.
Reuters quoted “a source with knowledge of plans for the tournament” as saying that Budweiser, the official beer partner of the Qatar World Cup, “will serve beer within the ticketed perimeter surrounding each stadium, but not in the stadium stands or concourse.”
AP News also indicated that fans will also be allowed to buy Budweiser beer during evenings at the official “Fan Festival,” which will take place in a downtown Doha park from 6:30 pm to 1:00 am.
“Beer will be available when gates open, which is three hours before kick off. Whoever wants to have a beer will be able to. And then when they leave the stadium as well for one hour after the final whistle,” Reuters’ sources added.
Although the decision about when and where fans will be served beer is finalized, the prices they will be charged are still under discussion, Reuters indicated.
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FIFA’s website has advertised in recent hospitality packages that “beer, Champagne, sommelier-selected wines, and premium spirits” will be served in VIP lounges at the stadiums. But Qatar was initially resistant to the idea of alcohol being served inside its facilities.
This is the first time for the global tournament to be held in a Muslim country, where alcohol consumption usually is either strictly controlled or outlawed.
Reuters quoted a Budweiser spokesperson as saying: “We are working closely with FIFA, which is managing the relationship with the Qatari authorities, to ensure our activations for the tournament are executed respectfully and in compliance with local rules and regulations.”
