Business Desk: If you were looking ahead to cheer for your favourite football team with a glass of beer than there is a bad news for you. The world cup organizers in Qatar will be prohibiting the sales of alcoholic drinks in the stadiums. According to FIFA this decision was taken on Friday.
If this ban comes into force it will not just hurt fans from countries where enjoying a game of football with a glass of beer is quiet common, but it will also be a major setback for alcoholic brands.
Although, it is unclear whether advertisements of alcoholic brands within stadiums are also banned. Display ads of such brands inside stadiums are usual in football tournaments like Premier League or European Championships. In fact, brands like Budweiser and Heineken have often been seen as major sponsors of such tournaments.
Indeed, this ban will be a major setback for such brands who were putting their money on the world cup.
This ban would also mean that FIFA will be breaching a multi-million commercial contract with Budweiser after allowing it to sell alcoholic beverages in the stadiums.
It is never a good idea to promote alcohol consumption, however, Qatar’s last minute announcements about this ban and other prohibitions like the dress codes just a couple of days before the kick-off of the grand event is being questioned and criticized by many.