Qatar has asked FIFA to stop selling beer in the stadiums where the World Cup matches are held, according to the British newspaper The Times.
The request came from the Qatari royal family and could create an economic problem with one of the main sponsors of the competition, the Budweiser beer brand, which could demand millions in compensation.
In Qatar, alcohol consumption is highly restricted and the drink can only be consumed in some hotels in the capital.
During the World Cup, these regulations were relaxed, but alcohol is still not sold in supermarkets and the prices of drinks can reach very high values: a liter of beer can cost more than 13 euros.
During the championship, hotels, fan zones and stadiums have created specific periods in which the sale of alcohol is allowed, although with limitations, such as the impossibility of buying more than two beers at the same time.
According to a source quoted by the newspaper, it is likely that fans will be warned before the opening game – Qatar plays Ecuador – that they cannot consume beer.
Source: TSF
