The sale of alcoholic beer is prohibited inside FIFA World Cup 2022 stadiums.The organisers made this announcement a day before the start of a tournament. while the company making and serving beer had bid millions of dollars for it. This has caused a big loss to the companies.
Doha: The sale of “alcoholic” beer was banned in eight FIFA World Cup stadiums on Friday. Just two days before the start of the FIFA tournament, the decision was taken. Non-alcoholic beer will be sold during the 64 matches to be held in the country. FIFA said in a statement that following discussions between the host country’s authorities and FIFA, it will remove the sale of alcoholic beverages at “fan festivals,” other fan venues, and the perimeter of the stadium at licenced venues to pay for the sale of beer. Also Read: Blatter became FIFA boss for the fifth time amid corruption and arrest
The beer company spent millions of dollars
Champagne, wine, whiskey, and other “liquor” will be served in the “luxury hospitality areas” of the stadium. Outside of these venues, the only “alcohol” sold to FIFA World Cup regular ticket holders will be beer. AB InBev, the parent company of World Cup beer sponsor Budweiser, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. AB InBev pays hundreds of millions of dollars for the “exclusive” rights to sell beer at each World Cup and has shipped considerable stock from the UK to Qatar for fans.
In 1986, the parent business of Budweiser entered into a contract
Since the 1986 competition, Budweiser’s parent business has had this relationship with FIFA, and there are currently discussions about extending it for the upcoming World Cup in North America. Such a sudden decision may seem extreme in the West, but in Qatar, the Emir, the hereditary heir to the throne, has absolute authority over all government decisions, where Islam is strictly followed. However, over the years, the sale of alcohol has been permitted in hotel bars.
Qatar signed the contract
Qatar committed to respecting FIFA’s business partners when it started the World Cup bidding process, and it did so when it signed the agreement after being chosen in 2010. The host nation has to adapt for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. a law allowing the sale of liquor. Ronan Ewen, executive director of fan group Football Sports Europe in Europe, described the decision to ban the sale of beer in Qatar as “very worrying.”
Protests on social media
Ewen wrote on Twitter that for many fans, regardless of whether they drink alcohol or follow the no-drinking policy in the stadium. But with 48 hours left before the tournament begins, we have entered a dangerous situation in which assurances hold little value. AB InBev’s contract with FIFA was extended in 2011 for two tournaments until 2022, when Qatar was chosen as host. However, the Belgian business has recently been in doubt regarding its ability to “serve” and sell beer in Qatar.
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