"Qatar bans the sale of alcohol at World Cup stadiums 48 hours before tournament kicks off"

" Qatar bans the sale of alcohol at World Cup stadiums 48 hours before tournament kicks off \r\n\r\nIn an abrupt about-face, Qatari officials have decided that the only alcohol that will be on sale to fans at stadiums during the month-long World Cup will be nonalcoholic.\r\n\r\nThe decision on beer sales was confirmed to the New York Times on Friday morning by a World Cup official familiar with the change in plans.\r\n\r\nThe official asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak with the news media, and because Qatar was still preparing its official announcement on Friday morning.\r\n\r\nThe move is the latest and most dramatic change to an evolving alcohol plan that has for months increased tensions between Fifa, soccer\u2019s global governing body, and Qatar, a conservative Muslim nation where the sale of alcohol is tightly controlled.\r\n\r\nBut it also will complicate Fifa\u2019s $75 million sponsorship agreement with Budweiser; infuriate fans already chafing at restrictions; and once again leave organisers scrambling to adjust \u2013 this time only 48 hours before the tournament\u2019s opening game.\r\n\r\nIt also suggested that Fifa, which has faced years of blistering criticism for its decision to bring its showpiece championship to Qatar, may no longer be in full control of big decisions related to its event.\r\n\r\nThe organisation\u2019s official fan guide notes that \u201cticket holders will have access to Budweiser, Budweiser Zero, and Coca-Cola products within the stadium perimeter\u201d for at least three hours before games, and for one hour afterward.\r\n\r\nThe ban on alcohol sales to fans at stadiums \u2013 beer will still be available in luxury suites reserved for Fifa officials and other wealthy guests \u2013 comes a week after an earlier edict that dozens of red beer tents bearing Budweiser\u2019s branding be moved to more discrete locations at the World Cup\u2019s eight stadiums, away from where most of the crowds attending games would pass.\r\n\r\nQatar has grappled with the subject of alcohol ever since the tiny Gulf nation was awarded World Cup hosting rights in 2010.\r\n\r\nAlcohol is available in the country, but sales are strictly controlled; most visitors, even before the World Cup, were only permitted to buy beer and other alcoholic beverages in upscale hotel bars and at unusually high prices.\r\n\r\nRepresentatives for Budweiser, who had said last week that they were blindsided to Qatar\u2019s earlier changes to their sales strategy for the World Cup, did not immediately reply to requests for comment.\r\n\r\nLast week, Qatari organisers tried to play down the rising tension over beer sales, a fixture of World Cups for generations, by saying operational plans were still being finalised, and that changes were still being made in \u201cthe location of certain fan areas.\u201d\r\n\r\nIts statement also noted that \u201cpouring times and the number of pouring destinations\u201d remained the same at all eight stadiums.\r\n\r\nBudweiser, which pays Fifa the $75 million for each four-year World Cup cycle, had said it was working with organisers \u201cto relocate the concession outlets to locations as directed.\u201d \r\n\r\nFriday\u2019s newest plan means the brewer\u2019s red tents now may not be visible at all around stadiums; unbranded white replacements are being considered.\r\n\r\nRefrigerators in the company\u2019s famous red colours are likely to be replaced by blue ones, the colour associated with Budweiser\u2019s nonalcoholic brand, Budweiser Zero."

"Qatar bans the sale of alcohol at World Cup stadiums 48 hours before tournament kicks off"

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