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A16 SPORTS
Thursday 10 November 2022
EXPLAINER: Laws and customs in Qatar ahead of 2022 World Cup

By ISABEL DEBRE Associ- The autocratic country
ated Press says it will loosen up for the
Over a million sports fans unprecedented influx of
will go to Qatar for the tourists. But fans attending
World Cup in November the World Cup should be
and December, a specta- mindful of Qatar's laws and
cle that typically turns host cultural customs, including
countries into a nonstop policies for alcohol, drugs,
party. But this year may be sexuality and dress code.
different. The tiny, conser- Here's a look at the some
vative Muslim nation may of them:
show little tolerance for the ALCOHOL
booze-fueled hooligan- Alcohol is served only in
ism that has unfolded at hotel restaurants and bars
tournaments past. Qatar that have licenses in Qa-
has sought to portray itself tar. It is illegal to consume
as welcoming to foreign- it elsewhere. Non-Muslim
ers but traditional Muslim residents of Doha who
values remain strong in have a liquor license, how-
the hereditarily ruled emir- ever, may drink at home.
ate. Qatar's judicial system, At the World Cup, fans will
based on an interpretation be allowed to buy Bud-
of Islamic law, or Shariah, weiser beer within stadium
A Qatari man greets a boy in traditional Gulf Arab style during an event in the Msheireb district has drawn Western criti- compounds though not
of Doha, Qatar, May 6, 2018. Qatar has sought to portray itself as welcoming foreigners to this
hereditarily ruled emirate, where traditional Muslim values remain strong. cism for its tendency to fa- at concourse concession
Associated Press vor prosecutors and police. stands before and after
games. Fans can also drink
in the evenings at a desig-
nated "fan zone" in down-
town Doha. Generally in
Qatar, public drunkenness
is punishable by hefty fines
and jailing. But the head of
Qatar's security operations
has said that during the
tournament, police will turn
a blind eye to most offens-
es but potentially make ar-
rests if someone gets into a
drunken brawl or damages
public property.
The legal drinking age is
21, and bouncers at bars
often ask for photo ID or
passports upon entry.
DRUGS
Qatar is one of the world's
most restrictive nations
when it comes to drugs,
prohibiting cannabis and
even over-the-counter
medications like narcotics,
sedatives and amphet-
amines. The sale, traffick-
ing and possession of il-
legal drugs may lead to
severe penalties, including
long-term prison sentences
followed by deportation
and heavy fines.
Drug smuggling charges
can carry the death penal-
ty. World Cup fans should
be aware of these laws
when arriving at Hamad In-
ternational Airport, where
authorities scan bags and
passengers with new secu-
rity technology and have
arrested those carrying
the smallest quantities of
drugs.q