This archive report was first published on 27 September 2019.
On September 3, 2019, the official logo for the 2022 Qatar World Cup was seen on the Doha Tower in Doha, Qatar.
Qatar is gearing up to host the 2022 World Cup, with an expected one million visitors. To accommodate this influx, the country plans to use cruise ships to provide designated locations for fans to consume alcohol.
Nasser Al Khater, chief executive of the 2022 World Cup, has assured that fans from boycotting countries, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, will not be barred. These countries have accused Qatar of supporting terrorism, which it denies.
Qatar was the surprise winner of the 2010 vote to host the tournament and will be the smallest country in size to have hosted the event. This raises questions about how the country will manage the influx of fans and whether supporters will be able to let their hair down.
“Qatar is a conservative country, it’s a modest country, alcohol is not part of our culture however hospitality is,” Al Khater said.
Al Khater also mentioned that the country is considering lowering the price of alcohol, which is currently around $15 for a half litre of beer.
“The issue of the cost of alcohol is something that is being discussed right now,” he said. “We recognise there is an issue with price.”
Qatar has a 100 per cent alcohol tax, which was introduced in January and increased prices. However, the tax was later lowered by around 20 to 30 per cent.
Al Khater assured that security forces will be trained to handle anti-social behaviour and that the country is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all fans.
