In a late U-Turn FIFA announced that ABInBev’s Budweiser will be banned from Qatar World Cup stadiums. One might suggest that the drinkers are being saved from themselves (the parallel Budweiser Budvar brewed by a Czech Government owned brewery is excellent). In its latest move Budweiser has threatened to give all unsold beer to the World Cup winner
Budweiser banned from Qatar stadiums (except for £20K hospitality boxes). Meanwhile 6.500+ dead
However the wealthy will as ever get a free pass. Those in £20,000 hospitality boxes can continue to drink Budweiser at £11.60 a pint a price that is not likely to bother them.
The implication is clear that the rich can be trusted to drink sensibly while everyone else cant be. There is it must be said little evidence to support this view.
Qatar which the Guardian describes as a ‘conservative Muslim’ country (though one doubts one size fits all) has reactionary Government. To U-Turn on an agreement around alcohol with 48 hours to the start of the World Cup, when there have been 12 years to sort it, suggests agendas at work on a wider scale.
That said given that around 6.500 construction workers died building the World Cup stadiums perhaps its best to have a beer (or not) away from the football altogether
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