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£15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on TV

Thu Sep 29, 2022 10:53 am

£15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on TV: The eye-opening reality of what the Qatar World Cup will be like for fans





Football fans from Wales and around the World have been warned they face a very different experience at this winter's football World Cup in Qatar.

Alcohol will be extremely hard to come by, with hotel bars one of few options and prices expected to be up to £15 a pint. There are also major concerns fans will struggle to find anywhere to watch matches on TV, as well as limited accommodation options.

Football Supporters Association to gather full details on what lies in wait.

At the time of writing, authorities in Qatar are still racing against the clock to get everything done before the hosts take on Ecuador at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.


There are still quite a few questions that still need to be answered, but on the whole we're already starting to get a clearer picture of what this tournament is going to look like.

Here's everything we know so far:

Alcohol

Booze is going to be very hard to come by in Qatar, and if you're lucky enough to find it, you can expect to pay some truly eye-watering prices.

There is one off licence on the outskirts of Doha, but it requires buyers to hold a licence, which many are unlikely to have unless they happen to be a resident. That sadly rules out any chance of buying a few cans for your hotel room.

Most thirsty fans will likely look at getting into one of the four or five star hotel bars, although make sure you take plenty of cash.

Outside of happy hour reductions, fans can expect to pay in the region £12-£15 for a pint in Doha, and you will have to consume it at that bar. Don't even think about going out into the street with a drink because you will almost certainly get into hot water with the authorities.






Law and order, and dealing with disorder

The Football Supporters Association has been told there are four different 'processes' in dealing with offences in Qatar that would likely be considered minor in the west.

One is a telling off, the second is you have to leave the area, third is you lose your Hayya card, which will effectively mean you are sent home.

The fourth is jail.

There is still a lack of clarity over what offences will garner certain punishments. Certainly there is a chance of some cultural clashes, with fans urged to use their common sense and to show respect for local culture and customs.

For example, many fans might usually be tempted to cope with the heat by taking their shirt off, but this act could well ruffle feathers with the locals. Indeed, there is already a suggestion that fans doing so inside stadiums will be ejected.

Fans travelling to Qatar have been advised to co-operate with police at all times, and to not escalate anything by being confrontational.








Noel Mooney recently said: “It’s not OK to do things that you may get away with here, urinating in the street for example. You might get away with that on a dark night here, you won’t get away with it there. If you’re doing things that insult their culture, then they will call you out on it. We’ve looked at it as a platform for dialogue and improving the world. For trying to show best practices and our values, what we hold dear.”

However, there's not yet been clarification on just how any boisterous behaviour such as being drunk in public or singing in the streets, both of which are frowned upon by locals, will be handled. Indeed, there are some concerns that Qatari authorities have underestimated what sort of behaviour will be expected.

It's understood representatives from police forces around the world will be liaising closely with local authorities in a bid to ensure matches are policed proportionately, and offer advice on what to expect from the average western football fan.

Drugs

Drugs offences carry a minimum of a seven-year prison sentence, and fans have been warned that if they are offered anything in a bar, it could be an undercover police officer.

Even residual amounts of drugs can result in a heavy punishment.

What to do and nightlife

There are some local sights. The four-mile waterfront promenade, or Corniche, offers some stunning views of the Arabian sea, while the local souk boasts a number of local stalls selling various delicacies.

But on the whole, there's not an awful lot of culture for fans to soak up. Indeed, several sources have told WalesOnline that there's a real risk fans will get a bit, well, bored.

It's perhaps for that reason that organisers have been so keen to lay on some added extras.

The fan park, Al Bidda, is set to hold as many as 40,000 fans, and will contain giant screens and will also have an alcohol licence between 6.30pm and 1am. There has also been a suggestion there will be live performances from international artists, although there's not yet been any further information on that.

Budweiser will be the only beer available given they are the FIFA's official partner, and organisers have said prices will be 'affordable'.




Bizarrely, the folks at Arcadia (of Glastonbury fame) will also be there. For those wondering, it's essentially an elaborate arena with a DJ booth encased within a giant metal spider, playing house and rave music with light shows and pyrotechnics.

Booze there will be served from 10am-5am, but the event will be ticketed, with entry costs starting at £75 per day.

Watching games on TV

Incredibly, there's a very real chance most fans, and even players themselves, won't be able to watch the tournament on tele while they're there.

Broadcaster BeIn Sports is the rights holder for the tournament, and are charging significant premiums, believed to be as much as £25,000, for each location wanting to show the action.

It's understood that a 'location' constitutes a room.

So, for instance, if a hotel has five bars with televisions, they would have to pay that fee five times. If they wanted to show it in the hotel rooms themselves, they would have to pay the fee for each of those hotel rooms.

It's a baffling turn of events, and organisers have already been urged to acknowledge the absurdity of it all and reconsider, although it's understood there is unlikely to be a U-turn.



Hotels are more than expensive and are virtually full.
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Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Thu Sep 29, 2022 11:16 am

Qatar will surprise people with their tolerance and all the scare mongering is just tabloids stirring it up. Respect their laws and all will be fine and I am sure people will have a great time.

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Thu Sep 29, 2022 11:29 am

1980s Bluebird wrote:Qatar will surprise people with their tolerance and all the scare mongering is just tabloids stirring it up. Respect their laws and all will be fine and I am sure people will have a great time.


Nevertheless its good advice but I can see loads of entitled English idiots falling foul of these laws with the excuse "I didn't know" which as we all know is no excuse. When in Rome and all that.

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Thu Sep 29, 2022 11:54 am

Forever Blue wrote:£15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on TV: The eye-opening reality of what the Qatar World Cup will be like for fans





Football fans from Wales and around the World have been warned they face a very different experience at this winter's football World Cup in Qatar.

Alcohol will be extremely hard to come by, with hotel bars one of few options and prices expected to be up to £15 a pint. There are also major concerns fans will struggle to find anywhere to watch matches on TV, as well as limited accommodation options.

Football Supporters Association to gather full details on what lies in wait.

At the time of writing, authorities in Qatar are still racing against the clock to get everything done before the hosts take on Ecuador at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.


There are still quite a few questions that still need to be answered, but on the whole we're already starting to get a clearer picture of what this tournament is going to look like.

Here's everything we know so far:

Alcohol

Booze is going to be very hard to come by in Qatar, and if you're lucky enough to find it, you can expect to pay some truly eye-watering prices.

There is one off licence on the outskirts of Doha, but it requires buyers to hold a licence, which many are unlikely to have unless they happen to be a resident. That sadly rules out any chance of buying a few cans for your hotel room.

Most thirsty fans will likely look at getting into one of the four or five star hotel bars, although make sure you take plenty of cash.

Outside of happy hour reductions, fans can expect to pay in the region £12-£15 for a pint in Doha, and you will have to consume it at that bar. Don't even think about going out into the street with a drink because you will almost certainly get into hot water with the authorities.






Law and order, and dealing with disorder

The Football Supporters Association has been told there are four different 'processes' in dealing with offences in Qatar that would likely be considered minor in the west.

One is a telling off, the second is you have to leave the area, third is you lose your Hayya card, which will effectively mean you are sent home.

The fourth is jail.

There is still a lack of clarity over what offences will garner certain punishments. Certainly there is a chance of some cultural clashes, with fans urged to use their common sense and to show respect for local culture and customs.

For example, many fans might usually be tempted to cope with the heat by taking their shirt off, but this act could well ruffle feathers with the locals. Indeed, there is already a suggestion that fans doing so inside stadiums will be ejected.

Fans travelling to Qatar have been advised to co-operate with police at all times, and to not escalate anything by being confrontational.








Noel Mooney recently said: “It’s not OK to do things that you may get away with here, urinating in the street for example. You might get away with that on a dark night here, you won’t get away with it there. If you’re doing things that insult their culture, then they will call you out on it. We’ve looked at it as a platform for dialogue and improving the world. For trying to show best practices and our values, what we hold dear.”

However, there's not yet been clarification on just how any boisterous behaviour such as being drunk in public or singing in the streets, both of which are frowned upon by locals, will be handled. Indeed, there are some concerns that Qatari authorities have underestimated what sort of behaviour will be expected.

It's understood representatives from police forces around the world will be liaising closely with local authorities in a bid to ensure matches are policed proportionately, and offer advice on what to expect from the average western football fan.

Drugs

Drugs offences carry a minimum of a seven-year prison sentence, and fans have been warned that if they are offered anything in a bar, it could be an undercover police officer.

Even residual amounts of drugs can result in a heavy punishment.

What to do and nightlife

There are some local sights. The four-mile waterfront promenade, or Corniche, offers some stunning views of the Arabian sea, while the local souk boasts a number of local stalls selling various delicacies.

But on the whole, there's not an awful lot of culture for fans to soak up. Indeed, several sources have told WalesOnline that there's a real risk fans will get a bit, well, bored.

It's perhaps for that reason that organisers have been so keen to lay on some added extras.

The fan park, Al Bidda, is set to hold as many as 40,000 fans, and will contain giant screens and will also have an alcohol licence between 6.30pm and 1am. There has also been a suggestion there will be live performances from international artists, although there's not yet been any further information on that.

Budweiser will be the only beer available given they are the FIFA's official partner, and organisers have said prices will be 'affordable'.




Bizarrely, the folks at Arcadia (of Glastonbury fame) will also be there. For those wondering, it's essentially an elaborate arena with a DJ booth encased within a giant metal spider, playing house and rave music with light shows and pyrotechnics.

Booze there will be served from 10am-5am, but the event will be ticketed, with entry costs starting at £75 per day.

Watching games on TV

Incredibly, there's a very real chance most fans, and even players themselves, won't be able to watch the tournament on tele while they're there.

Broadcaster BeIn Sports is the rights holder for the tournament, and are charging significant premiums, believed to be as much as £25,000, for each location wanting to show the action.

It's understood that a 'location' constitutes a room.

So, for instance, if a hotel has five bars with televisions, they would have to pay that fee five times. If they wanted to show it in the hotel rooms themselves, they would have to pay the fee for each of those hotel rooms.

It's a baffling turn of events, and organisers have already been urged to acknowledge the absurdity of it all and reconsider, although it's understood there is unlikely to be a U-turn.



Hotels are more than expensive and are virtually full.


We’re staying in Dubai and travelling in on a shuttle flight for the us and Iran games . Plenty of booze options in Dubai . For match day in Doha we’ll book a sports bar / hotel for some grub and guaranteed booze . Then straight to the outer parameter of the stadium where there will also be drink .

Qatar sounds grim. The trip is also a logistical nightmare, at the moment they’re requiring PCR tests per visit .

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Thu Sep 29, 2022 11:55 am

I at one point seriously considered going but affordability eventually put pay to that,having read the above it was probably a wise decision.

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Thu Sep 29, 2022 11:56 am

Sneggyblubird wrote:
1980s Bluebird wrote:Qatar will surprise people with their tolerance and all the scare mongering is just tabloids stirring it up. Respect their laws and all will be fine and I am sure people will have a great time.


Nevertheless its good advice but I can see loads of entitled English idiots falling foul of these laws with the excuse "I didn't know" which as we all know is no excuse. When in Rome and all that.


It won't just be the English idiots. If you have travelled away with Wales recently you will know exactly what I mean.

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Thu Sep 29, 2022 12:22 pm

glas wrote:
Sneggyblubird wrote:
1980s Bluebird wrote:Qatar will surprise people with their tolerance and all the scare mongering is just tabloids stirring it up. Respect their laws and all will be fine and I am sure people will have a great time.


Nevertheless its good advice but I can see loads of entitled English idiots falling foul of these laws with the excuse "I didn't know" which as we all know is no excuse. When in Rome and all that.


It won't just be the English idiots. If you have travelled away with Wales recently you will know exactly what I mean.


Totally agree with you there but all countries have them though I must say we are far better behaved than the Engerlanders

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Thu Sep 29, 2022 12:25 pm

northside of risca wrote:
Forever Blue wrote:£15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on TV: The eye-opening reality of what the Qatar World Cup will be like for fans





Football fans from Wales and around the World have been warned they face a very different experience at this winter's football World Cup in Qatar.

Alcohol will be extremely hard to come by, with hotel bars one of few options and prices expected to be up to £15 a pint. There are also major concerns fans will struggle to find anywhere to watch matches on TV, as well as limited accommodation options.

Football Supporters Association to gather full details on what lies in wait.

At the time of writing, authorities in Qatar are still racing against the clock to get everything done before the hosts take on Ecuador at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.


There are still quite a few questions that still need to be answered, but on the whole we're already starting to get a clearer picture of what this tournament is going to look like.

Here's everything we know so far:

Alcohol

Booze is going to be very hard to come by in Qatar, and if you're lucky enough to find it, you can expect to pay some truly eye-watering prices.

There is one off licence on the outskirts of Doha, but it requires buyers to hold a licence, which many are unlikely to have unless they happen to be a resident. That sadly rules out any chance of buying a few cans for your hotel room.

Most thirsty fans will likely look at getting into one of the four or five star hotel bars, although make sure you take plenty of cash.

Outside of happy hour reductions, fans can expect to pay in the region £12-£15 for a pint in Doha, and you will have to consume it at that bar. Don't even think about going out into the street with a drink because you will almost certainly get into hot water with the authorities.






Law and order, and dealing with disorder

The Football Supporters Association has been told there are four different 'processes' in dealing with offences in Qatar that would likely be considered minor in the west.

One is a telling off, the second is you have to leave the area, third is you lose your Hayya card, which will effectively mean you are sent home.

The fourth is jail.

There is still a lack of clarity over what offences will garner certain punishments. Certainly there is a chance of some cultural clashes, with fans urged to use their common sense and to show respect for local culture and customs.

For example, many fans might usually be tempted to cope with the heat by taking their shirt off, but this act could well ruffle feathers with the locals. Indeed, there is already a suggestion that fans doing so inside stadiums will be ejected.

Fans travelling to Qatar have been advised to co-operate with police at all times, and to not escalate anything by being confrontational.








Noel Mooney recently said: “It’s not OK to do things that you may get away with here, urinating in the street for example. You might get away with that on a dark night here, you won’t get away with it there. If you’re doing things that insult their culture, then they will call you out on it. We’ve looked at it as a platform for dialogue and improving the world. For trying to show best practices and our values, what we hold dear.”

However, there's not yet been clarification on just how any boisterous behaviour such as being drunk in public or singing in the streets, both of which are frowned upon by locals, will be handled. Indeed, there are some concerns that Qatari authorities have underestimated what sort of behaviour will be expected.

It's understood representatives from police forces around the world will be liaising closely with local authorities in a bid to ensure matches are policed proportionately, and offer advice on what to expect from the average western football fan.

Drugs

Drugs offences carry a minimum of a seven-year prison sentence, and fans have been warned that if they are offered anything in a bar, it could be an undercover police officer.

Even residual amounts of drugs can result in a heavy punishment.

What to do and nightlife

There are some local sights. The four-mile waterfront promenade, or Corniche, offers some stunning views of the Arabian sea, while the local souk boasts a number of local stalls selling various delicacies.

But on the whole, there's not an awful lot of culture for fans to soak up. Indeed, several sources have told WalesOnline that there's a real risk fans will get a bit, well, bored.

It's perhaps for that reason that organisers have been so keen to lay on some added extras.

The fan park, Al Bidda, is set to hold as many as 40,000 fans, and will contain giant screens and will also have an alcohol licence between 6.30pm and 1am. There has also been a suggestion there will be live performances from international artists, although there's not yet been any further information on that.

Budweiser will be the only beer available given they are the FIFA's official partner, and organisers have said prices will be 'affordable'.




Bizarrely, the folks at Arcadia (of Glastonbury fame) will also be there. For those wondering, it's essentially an elaborate arena with a DJ booth encased within a giant metal spider, playing house and rave music with light shows and pyrotechnics.

Booze there will be served from 10am-5am, but the event will be ticketed, with entry costs starting at £75 per day.

Watching games on TV

Incredibly, there's a very real chance most fans, and even players themselves, won't be able to watch the tournament on tele while they're there.

Broadcaster BeIn Sports is the rights holder for the tournament, and are charging significant premiums, believed to be as much as £25,000, for each location wanting to show the action.

It's understood that a 'location' constitutes a room.

So, for instance, if a hotel has five bars with televisions, they would have to pay that fee five times. If they wanted to show it in the hotel rooms themselves, they would have to pay the fee for each of those hotel rooms.

It's a baffling turn of events, and organisers have already been urged to acknowledge the absurdity of it all and reconsider, although it's understood there is unlikely to be a U-turn.



Hotels are more than expensive and are virtually full.


We’re staying in Dubai and travelling in on a shuttle flight for the us and Iran games . Plenty of booze options in Dubai . For match day in Doha we’ll book a sports bar / hotel for some grub and guaranteed booze . Then straight to the outer parameter of the stadium where there will also be drink .

Qatar sounds grim. The trip is also a logistical nightmare, at the moment they’re requiring PCR tests per visit .


Admire your support on this occasion but for me I will stick with the qualifiers next year and hopefully a full on tour of Germany in 2024. Beside I could never possibly put the money in the coffers in the war time home of those Taliban fuckers!

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Thu Sep 29, 2022 1:37 pm

1980s Bluebird wrote:
northside of risca wrote:
Forever Blue wrote:£15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on TV: The eye-opening reality of what the Qatar World Cup will be like for fans





Football fans from Wales and around the World have been warned they face a very different experience at this winter's football World Cup in Qatar.

Alcohol will be extremely hard to come by, with hotel bars one of few options and prices expected to be up to £15 a pint. There are also major concerns fans will struggle to find anywhere to watch matches on TV, as well as limited accommodation options.

Football Supporters Association to gather full details on what lies in wait.

At the time of writing, authorities in Qatar are still racing against the clock to get everything done before the hosts take on Ecuador at the 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.


There are still quite a few questions that still need to be answered, but on the whole we're already starting to get a clearer picture of what this tournament is going to look like.

Here's everything we know so far:

Alcohol

Booze is going to be very hard to come by in Qatar, and if you're lucky enough to find it, you can expect to pay some truly eye-watering prices.

There is one off licence on the outskirts of Doha, but it requires buyers to hold a licence, which many are unlikely to have unless they happen to be a resident. That sadly rules out any chance of buying a few cans for your hotel room.

Most thirsty fans will likely look at getting into one of the four or five star hotel bars, although make sure you take plenty of cash.

Outside of happy hour reductions, fans can expect to pay in the region £12-£15 for a pint in Doha, and you will have to consume it at that bar. Don't even think about going out into the street with a drink because you will almost certainly get into hot water with the authorities.






Law and order, and dealing with disorder

The Football Supporters Association has been told there are four different 'processes' in dealing with offences in Qatar that would likely be considered minor in the west.

One is a telling off, the second is you have to leave the area, third is you lose your Hayya card, which will effectively mean you are sent home.

The fourth is jail.

There is still a lack of clarity over what offences will garner certain punishments. Certainly there is a chance of some cultural clashes, with fans urged to use their common sense and to show respect for local culture and customs.

For example, many fans might usually be tempted to cope with the heat by taking their shirt off, but this act could well ruffle feathers with the locals. Indeed, there is already a suggestion that fans doing so inside stadiums will be ejected.

Fans travelling to Qatar have been advised to co-operate with police at all times, and to not escalate anything by being confrontational.








Noel Mooney recently said: “It’s not OK to do things that you may get away with here, urinating in the street for example. You might get away with that on a dark night here, you won’t get away with it there. If you’re doing things that insult their culture, then they will call you out on it. We’ve looked at it as a platform for dialogue and improving the world. For trying to show best practices and our values, what we hold dear.”

However, there's not yet been clarification on just how any boisterous behaviour such as being drunk in public or singing in the streets, both of which are frowned upon by locals, will be handled. Indeed, there are some concerns that Qatari authorities have underestimated what sort of behaviour will be expected.

It's understood representatives from police forces around the world will be liaising closely with local authorities in a bid to ensure matches are policed proportionately, and offer advice on what to expect from the average western football fan.

Drugs

Drugs offences carry a minimum of a seven-year prison sentence, and fans have been warned that if they are offered anything in a bar, it could be an undercover police officer.

Even residual amounts of drugs can result in a heavy punishment.

What to do and nightlife

There are some local sights. The four-mile waterfront promenade, or Corniche, offers some stunning views of the Arabian sea, while the local souk boasts a number of local stalls selling various delicacies.

But on the whole, there's not an awful lot of culture for fans to soak up. Indeed, several sources have told WalesOnline that there's a real risk fans will get a bit, well, bored.

It's perhaps for that reason that organisers have been so keen to lay on some added extras.

The fan park, Al Bidda, is set to hold as many as 40,000 fans, and will contain giant screens and will also have an alcohol licence between 6.30pm and 1am. There has also been a suggestion there will be live performances from international artists, although there's not yet been any further information on that.

Budweiser will be the only beer available given they are the FIFA's official partner, and organisers have said prices will be 'affordable'.




Bizarrely, the folks at Arcadia (of Glastonbury fame) will also be there. For those wondering, it's essentially an elaborate arena with a DJ booth encased within a giant metal spider, playing house and rave music with light shows and pyrotechnics.

Booze there will be served from 10am-5am, but the event will be ticketed, with entry costs starting at £75 per day.

Watching games on TV

Incredibly, there's a very real chance most fans, and even players themselves, won't be able to watch the tournament on tele while they're there.

Broadcaster BeIn Sports is the rights holder for the tournament, and are charging significant premiums, believed to be as much as £25,000, for each location wanting to show the action.

It's understood that a 'location' constitutes a room.

So, for instance, if a hotel has five bars with televisions, they would have to pay that fee five times. If they wanted to show it in the hotel rooms themselves, they would have to pay the fee for each of those hotel rooms.

It's a baffling turn of events, and organisers have already been urged to acknowledge the absurdity of it all and reconsider, although it's understood there is unlikely to be a U-turn.



Hotels are more than expensive and are virtually full.


We’re staying in Dubai and travelling in on a shuttle flight for the us and Iran games . Plenty of booze options in Dubai . For match day in Doha we’ll book a sports bar / hotel for some grub and guaranteed booze . Then straight to the outer parameter of the stadium where there will also be drink .

Qatar sounds grim. The trip is also a logistical nightmare, at the moment they’re requiring PCR tests per visit .


Admire your support on this occasion but for me I will stick with the qualifiers next year and hopefully a full on tour of Germany in 2024. Beside I could never possibly put the money in the coffers in the war time home of those Taliban fuckers!




All sounds pretty awful. I was resigned to it being pretty dull between the games but at least there'd be the football to watch. We're in a licenced hotel for the first few nights. on the Europa for the last few nights and the portacabins in the middle. I assume they're showing it down the fan park, just don't fancy trucking down there every afternoon and night. If they cancelled the whole thing tomorrow I wouldn't be that bothered.

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Thu Sep 29, 2022 1:39 pm

This is a very different picture from what I have heard and seen. I along with two friends we are due to go to Qatar for the duration. My one mate has arranged for us to stay in his Son's flat in Qatar so happy days,(he lives and works there for a number of years). We had had a fair bit of direct feed back on all the aspects of the likely experience we are going to have there.
Its true that Qatar is a dictatorship and the Ruler makes decisions on the hoof, however the latest info I have is the following.
1. A cap on Beer prices for the duration of the world cup is £5 per pint
2. they have increased the number of fan zone about to serve alcohol from 5 to 8 zones
3. Yes, as a foreign visitor you will not be able to buy booze from any "off license But the locals can
4. All bars are located in the Hotels, and they are very large to say the least.
5. All public transport is free including the brand-new metro system ( Hypia Card needed for this as part of your entry into the country)
6. no drinking is allowed in public places.
7. Gay rights are not allowed (this wont affect me and my mates)

I am looking forward to it and I am anticipating having to spend a few bob out there but having sorted out my accommodation out there for next to nothing I think I may have dodged the biggest financial bullet for this world cup :occasion5:

I think I will cope very well out there

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Thu Sep 29, 2022 1:51 pm

Whistler wrote:This is a very different picture from what I have heard and seen. I along with two friends we are due to go to Qatar for the duration. My one mate has arranged for us to stay in his Son's flat in Qatar so happy days,(he lives and works there for a number of years). We had had a fair bit of direct feed back on all the aspects of the likely experience we are going to have there.
Its true that Qatar is a dictatorship and the Ruler makes decisions on the hoof, however the latest info I have is the following.
1. A cap on Beer prices for the duration of the world cup is £5 per pint
2. they have increased the number of fan zone about to serve alcohol from 5 to 8 zones
3. Yes, as a foreign visitor you will not be able to buy booze from any "off license But the locals can
4. All bars are located in the Hotels, and they are very large to say the least.
5. All public transport is free including the brand-new metro system ( Hypia Card needed for this as part of your entry into the country)
6. no drinking is allowed in public places.
7. Gay rights are not allowed (this wont affect me and my mates)

I am looking forward to it and I am anticipating having to spend a few bob out there but having sorted out my accommodation out there for next to nothing I think I may have dodged the biggest financial bullet for this world cup :occasion5:

I think I will cope very well out there


Having been to Qatar you are in for a shock as some of those points are simply incorrect including beer prices which will likely vary at different points and certainly be 15 pound in most places

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Thu Sep 29, 2022 1:55 pm

Whistler wrote:This is a very different picture from what I have heard and seen. I along with two friends we are due to go to Qatar for the duration. My one mate has arranged for us to stay in his Son's flat in Qatar so happy days,(he lives and works there for a number of years). We had had a fair bit of direct feed back on all the aspects of the likely experience we are going to have there.
Its true that Qatar is a dictatorship and the Ruler makes decisions on the hoof, however the latest info I have is the following.
1. A cap on Beer prices for the duration of the world cup is £5 per pint
2. they have increased the number of fan zone about to serve alcohol from 5 to 8 zones
3. Yes, as a foreign visitor you will not be able to buy booze from any "off license But the locals can
4. All bars are located in the Hotels, and they are very large to say the least.
5. All public transport is free including the brand-new metro system ( Hypia Card needed for this as part of your entry into the country)
6. no drinking is allowed in public places.
7. Gay rights are not allowed (this wont affect me and my mates)

I am looking forward to it and I am anticipating having to spend a few bob out there but having sorted out my accommodation out there for next to nothing I think I may have dodged the biggest financial bullet for this world cup :occasion5:

I think I will cope very well out there



That sounds more promising. Thanks.

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Thu Sep 29, 2022 6:29 pm

A pint and 4 straws please.Dont get to pissed or chat up the barmaid. You might not see Blighty for a while.

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Thu Sep 29, 2022 6:39 pm

Whistler wrote:This is a very different picture from what I have heard and seen. I along with two friends we are due to go to Qatar for the duration. My one mate has arranged for us to stay in his Son's flat in Qatar so happy days,(he lives and works there for a number of years). We had had a fair bit of direct feed back on all the aspects of the likely experience we are going to have there.
Its true that Qatar is a dictatorship and the Ruler makes decisions on the hoof, however the latest info I have is the following.
1. A cap on Beer prices for the duration of the world cup is £5 per pint
2. they have increased the number of fan zone about to serve alcohol from 5 to 8 zones
3. Yes, as a foreign visitor you will not be able to buy booze from any "off license But the locals can
4. All bars are located in the Hotels, and they are very large to say the least.
5. All public transport is free including the brand-new metro system ( Hypia Card needed for this as part of your entry into the country)
6. no drinking is allowed in public places.
7. Gay rights are not allowed (this wont affect me and my mates)

I am looking forward to it and I am anticipating having to spend a few bob out there but having sorted out my accommodation out there for next to nothing I think I may have dodged the biggest financial bullet for this world cup :occasion5:

I think I will cope very well out there


Point 7 and your takeaway from it is exactly the problem

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Fri Sep 30, 2022 7:43 am

M4 Exile wrote:
Whistler wrote:This is a very different picture from what I have heard and seen. I along with two friends we are due to go to Qatar for the duration. My one mate has arranged for us to stay in his Son's flat in Qatar so happy days,(he lives and works there for a number of years). We had had a fair bit of direct feed back on all the aspects of the likely experience we are going to have there.
Its true that Qatar is a dictatorship and the Ruler makes decisions on the hoof, however the latest info I have is the following.
1. A cap on Beer prices for the duration of the world cup is £5 per pint
2. they have increased the number of fan zone about to serve alcohol from 5 to 8 zones
3. Yes, as a foreign visitor you will not be able to buy booze from any "off license But the locals can
4. All bars are located in the Hotels, and they are very large to say the least.
5. All public transport is free including the brand-new metro system ( Hypia Card needed for this as part of your entry into the country)
6. no drinking is allowed in public places.
7. Gay rights are not allowed (this wont affect me and my mates)

I am looking forward to it and I am anticipating having to spend a few bob out there but having sorted out my accommodation out there for next to nothing I think I may have dodged the biggest financial bullet for this world cup :occasion5:

I think I will cope very well out there


Point 7 and your takeaway from it is exactly the problem


Some people don't like sodomy and reject the whole lgbtq political agenda. Open your mind a bit. Sodomy is disgusting btw

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Fri Sep 30, 2022 11:55 am

Qatar have announced no covid vaccine is required for entry so things are looking up :ayatollah:

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Fri Sep 30, 2022 4:38 pm

ffs wrote:Qatar have announced no covid vaccine is required for entry so things are looking up :ayatollah:

But gotta do PCR test instead, staying in Dubai and flying in for the games we’ll have to find somewhere in Dubai to do tests
PAIN IN THE ARSE

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Fri Sep 30, 2022 4:58 pm

aber blue wrote:
ffs wrote:Qatar have announced no covid vaccine is required for entry so things are looking up :ayatollah:

But gotta do PCR test instead, staying in Dubai and flying in for the games we’ll have to find somewhere in Dubai to do tests
PAIN IN THE ARSE



In the same boat , if you find a solution post it on here . Guidance is hard to understand , my reading is we need a test centre over there , but landing on the Sunday morning it only gives us basically Sunday afternoon to get something sorted for the USA game . The vaccinations are proving a waste of time !

I got my third jab specifically for the Dutch game and they didn’t do any checks in Amsterdam . It’s basically the f*cking flu now , such a joke .

As for the gay issue , those f*cking one love arm bands are virtue signalling at its very best . Simon Jordon speaks common sense on the issue . The 6.5k migrant workers dying during building of the grounds is a disgrace but no more than the country getting the gig in the first place .

Perhaps the Qatar national team should wear funny arm bands protesting at widespread knife crime or religious violence that is prominent in the Uk today . Perhaps we need educating on such matters .

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Fri Sep 30, 2022 7:24 pm

Something_Blue wrote:
Whistler wrote:This is a very different picture from what I have heard and seen. I along with two friends we are due to go to Qatar for the duration. My one mate has arranged for us to stay in his Son's flat in Qatar so happy days,(he lives and works there for a number of years). We had had a fair bit of direct feed back on all the aspects of the likely experience we are going to have there.
Its true that Qatar is a dictatorship and the Ruler makes decisions on the hoof, however the latest info I have is the following.
1. A cap on Beer prices for the duration of the world cup is £5 per pint
2. they have increased the number of fan zone about to serve alcohol from 5 to 8 zones
3. Yes, as a foreign visitor you will not be able to buy booze from any "off license But the locals can
4. All bars are located in the Hotels, and they are very large to say the least.
5. All public transport is free including the brand-new metro system ( Hypia Card needed for this as part of your entry into the country)
6. no drinking is allowed in public places.
7. Gay rights are not allowed (this wont affect me and my mates)

I am looking forward to it and I am anticipating having to spend a few bob out there but having sorted out my accommodation out there for next to nothing I think I may have dodged the biggest financial bullet for this world cup :occasion5:

I think I will cope very well out there


Having been to Qatar you are in for a shock as some of those points are simply incorrect including beer prices which will likely vary at different points and certainly be 15 pound in most places


I can't see beer prices being £5 a pint. There will certainly be some tolerance where you can drink it but I would not risk it away from the fan zones.

It will be an experience for anyone going provide they don't step out of line.

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Fri Sep 30, 2022 8:31 pm

As tempted as we were to go, we decided to book a villa in Lanzarote instead. Much cheaper, and more tolerant :-)

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Fri Sep 30, 2022 8:35 pm

Lanzarote in November will be quite nice. The council should put on fan zones but probably won't

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Fri Sep 30, 2022 8:36 pm

northside of risca wrote:
aber blue wrote:
ffs wrote:Qatar have announced no covid vaccine is required for entry so things are looking up :ayatollah:

But gotta do PCR test instead, staying in Dubai and flying in for the games we’ll have to find somewhere in Dubai to do tests
PAIN IN THE ARSE



In the same boat , if you find a solution post it on here . Guidance is hard to understand , my reading is we need a test centre over there , but landing on the Sunday morning it only gives us basically Sunday afternoon to get something sorted for the USA game . The vaccinations are proving a waste of time !

I got my third jab specifically for the Dutch game and they didn’t do any checks in Amsterdam . It’s basically the f*cking flu now , such a joke .

As for the gay issue , those f*cking one love arm bands are virtue signalling at its very best . Simon Jordon speaks common sense on the issue . The 6.5k migrant workers dying during building of the grounds is a disgrace but no more than the country getting the gig in the first place .

Perhaps the Qatar national team should wear funny arm bands protesting at widespread knife crime or religious violence that is prominent in the Uk today . Perhaps we need educating on such matters .


My understanding is you can book a PCR test at Heathrow ( if that’s where you’re flying from) and either get results in 4 hours ( hefty price) or ask them to E mail you the result in 12, 24, 36 hours ( cheaper)
Don’t think we need a PCR to get into Dubai at the moment.

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Fri Sep 30, 2022 8:44 pm

aber blue wrote:
northside of risca wrote:
aber blue wrote:
ffs wrote:Qatar have announced no covid vaccine is required for entry so things are looking up :ayatollah:

But gotta do PCR test instead, staying in Dubai and flying in for the games we’ll have to find somewhere in Dubai to do tests
PAIN IN THE ARSE



In the same boat , if you find a solution post it on here . Guidance is hard to understand , my reading is we need a test centre over there , but landing on the Sunday morning it only gives us basically Sunday afternoon to get something sorted for the USA game . The vaccinations are proving a waste of time !

I got my third jab specifically for the Dutch game and they didn’t do any checks in Amsterdam . It’s basically the f*cking flu now , such a joke .

As for the gay issue , those f*cking one love arm bands are virtue signalling at its very best . Simon Jordon speaks common sense on the issue . The 6.5k migrant workers dying during building of the grounds is a disgrace but no more than the country getting the gig in the first place .

Perhaps the Qatar national team should wear funny arm bands protesting at widespread knife crime or religious violence that is prominent in the Uk today . Perhaps we need educating on such matters .


My understanding is you can book a PCR test at Heathrow ( if that’s where you’re flying from) and either get results in 4 hours ( hefty price) or ask them to E mail you the result in 12, 24, 36 hours ( cheaper)
Don’t think we need a PCR to get into Dubai at the moment.


Cheers , I’ll look at that option

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Fri Sep 30, 2022 8:44 pm

aber blue wrote:
northside of risca wrote:
aber blue wrote:
ffs wrote:Qatar have announced no covid vaccine is required for entry so things are looking up :ayatollah:

But gotta do PCR test instead, staying in Dubai and flying in for the games we’ll have to find somewhere in Dubai to do tests
PAIN IN THE ARSE



In the same boat , if you find a solution post it on here . Guidance is hard to understand , my reading is we need a test centre over there , but landing on the Sunday morning it only gives us basically Sunday afternoon to get something sorted for the USA game . The vaccinations are proving a waste of time !

I got my third jab specifically for the Dutch game and they didn’t do any checks in Amsterdam . It’s basically the f*cking flu now , such a joke .

As for the gay issue , those f*cking one love arm bands are virtue signalling at its very best . Simon Jordon speaks common sense on the issue . The 6.5k migrant workers dying during building of the grounds is a disgrace but no more than the country getting the gig in the first place .

Perhaps the Qatar national team should wear funny arm bands protesting at widespread knife crime or religious violence that is prominent in the Uk today . Perhaps we need educating on such matters .


My understanding is you can book a PCR test at Heathrow ( if that’s where you’re flying from) and either get results in 4 hours ( hefty price) or ask them to E mail you the result in 12, 24, 36 hours ( cheaper)
Don’t think we need a PCR to get into Dubai at the moment.


Cheers , I’ll look at that option

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Sat Oct 01, 2022 8:00 pm

There was a journalist reporting back on talk sport and he was saying that beer prices will be around £5 to £6 a pint. The £15 is what would be paid normally, but being capped for the WC.

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Sun Oct 02, 2022 9:04 am

Carpe Diem wrote:There was a journalist reporting back on talk sport and he was saying that beer prices will be around £5 to £6 a pint. The £15 is what would be paid normally, but being capped for the WC.



Would that cap be limited to the fan zones or apply across the independent hotels as well ? I appreciate much of the current cost is the sin tax so it's certainly in their ability to enable a substantial reduction. It's just whether hotels etc choose to pass it on in full.

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Tue Oct 04, 2022 11:08 am

One thing that may have been missed is the rule on no sex outside marriage. So if you're taking your partner and not married there is a possibility that you could end up in trouble.

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Tue Oct 04, 2022 11:10 am

It will be £15 a pint in Cardiff by then :laughing6:

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Tue Oct 04, 2022 11:22 am

See the Govt website on locallawsand customs.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advic ... nd-customs

Re: £15 a pint, no off-licences and nowhere showing games on

Tue Oct 04, 2022 4:22 pm

I can't see it being fun for anyone going to Qatar, stupid idea to have it there but I guess they gave the best backhanders.