Beer prices at the FIFA World Cup have been revealed and while a pint certainly won’t come cheap it’s unlikely to stop thirsty punters indulging when they can in Qatar.
Local reports suggest a 500m cup of beer will cost 50 riyals at the tournament’s main 40,000-capacity fan zone in Doha, with prices expected to be similar across the eight World Cup stadiums.
That’s about $20 Australian — a brutal hit to the hip pocket but the kind of price not uncommon at an Australian airport or upmarket bar.
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Aussie fans travelling to the tournament will likely have already accepted it won’t be a cheap exercise with many forking out thousands on flights and accommodation, some of which isn’t exactly looking great value for money.
Alcohol consumpion is banned in public in the Muslim nation, but is served in hotels and restaurants.
A pint at a Doha hotel can typically cost $A15-$20 but prices could be jacked up with an influx of travellers expected as the tournament begins on Monday (AEDT).
Budweiser is the sole provider of alcohol at the World Cup and has a $US75 million sponsorship deal with the tournament but drinking remains a sensitive issue.
The US brewer was reportedly ordered to relocate stalls selling beer outside World Cup venues to a less prominent location only eight days out from the tournament start, with the New York Times posting a video of tents being moved in recent days.
Fans will only be able to buy non-alcoholic drinks inside stadiums but drinking is allowed within stadium perimeters three hours before kick-off and one hour after full-time.
Alcohol will be sold the FIFA Fan Festival after 6.30pm but fans will have to take it easy as it is against Qatari law to be intoxicated in public — with special ‘sober zones’ to be set up for any who may overdo it.
This World Cup is being held in Qatar’s winter but attending the tournament is likely to be thirsty work for supporters, with temperatures still climbing to as high as 35 degrees Celsius during the day.
