Three individuals face criminal charges after police officers from the Ministry of Interior (MOI) apparently busted them for producing and selling large volumes of alcohol inside a Qatar residence.
In a Facebook post, the ministry said officers arrested the men following a routine patrol stop of a “suspicious” vehicle. When they approached, the driver fled but was eventually apprehended, the MOI said.
Inside the vehicle, police found some 350 1.5-liter bottles filled with a “liquor-like” liquid.
While being interrogated, the man confessed he had produced the bootleg booze with the help of two other individuals in his home.
When the police raided the dwelling, they found distillery equipment, supplies, 1,220 water bottles and 55 barrels, each with a capacity of 200 liters and filled with liquor, the ministry said.
Police say the individuals, whose nationalities were not disclosed, confessed to selling the alcohol to others and were turned over to the public prosecutor’s office to be formally charged.
Underground market
Alcohol consumption is strictly regulated in Qatar.
Drinks at high-end hotels in Qatar are expensive, and individuals must earn a minimum monthly salary – and have the permission of their employer – to shop at the country’s sole liquor store, the Qatar Distribution Co.
This effectively means that only middle and high-income earners – as well as tourists – can legally drink in Qatar.
Thus, to satisfy demand from the country’s hundreds of thousands of blue-collar workers, some entrepreneurs opt to brew their own liquor.
Last year, researchers from the World Health Organization estimated that more than one-third of the total amount of alcohol consumed in Qatar comes from underground sources.
In addition to homemade liquor, this includes booze that’s been smuggled into the country as well as industrial or “surrogate” alcohol such as mouthwash that’s not intended to be consumed as a beverage.
Qatar has attempted to crack down on bootleg alcohol consumption, even going as far as to tighten imports of alcohol-based colognes “in the interest of public health.”
Consumption of unregulated alcohol carries considerable health risks.
One resident told Doha News that he blames his consumption of sadeeqi – a bootleg liquor infused with toxic industrial alcohols – for several ailments from which he suffers, including short-term memory loss, sporadic stomach pain, bleeding during defecation and impaired vision.
According to some specialists, tight alcohol restrictions only fuel demand.
“The black market is thriving in the Industrial Area because of the prohibition,” Tristan Brusle of the French National Centre for Scientific Research told Doha News last year.
Thoughts?
There goes someones Ramadan payday I’d imagine
why they don’t just close it completely, its Haram anyways & Qatar is Islamic Country.
and the more relevant fact is that it is illegal.
Its only Haram to muslims, to anyone else its perfectly acceptable. Perhaps they could make sure its completely banned for muslims as against turning a blind eye in bars, restaurants and QDC.
yes that would actually be perfect.
The process of making sadeeqi is very simple and easy, if legal liquor is banned, illegal liquor will take over the market.
“entrepreneurs opt to brew their own liquor”
really people who make alcohol illegally are entrepreneurs, i supposed you would just describe drug dealers as “strong salesmen”
Innovative indeed !!
I’m sure that it is just meant as a cleaning and sterilizing fluid.
Demand for the product made the risk seem justifiable. Prices in the hotel bars and the QDC are extortionary, so it doesn’t surprise me that some enterprising people found a way to increase the supply. Prohibition has seldom worked. It’s widely known that in Saudi Arabia there is fermenting and distilling going on in private homes, even though the country is officially dry. Same will happen in Qatar. It’s a losing battle, much like the war on drugs has been in the U.S. You cannot stop it by attacking the supply. You have to address demand if you want to reduce it. My guess is that this is merely a drop in the proverbial bucket as far as underground liquor is concerned.
do Muslims have NO will power of their own or Allah to NOT use booze ?
or
are they that easily seduced by booze that they can forget THEIR BELIEF in Islam and Allah ?
One might ask the same of people of other faiths who stray into forbidden territory, but the reality is, or should be, that relationship with God is personal and not institutional. Some countries have made it institutional though, and it has forced others who are otherwise peaceful and law-abiding into observances that have their roots solely in faith rather than in political discourse. It’s much the same as prohibitions on eating in public during Ramadan. As a Christian, I do not fast to observe Ramadan. It is out of respect that I refrain from eating directly in front of Muslims during that time, but as I understand Islam it is worth more to be tempted and to resist than it is to be shielded from all temptation. It should not be my duty to them under Islamic law to protect them from the temptation.
Saudi is awash with booze and has some of the worst alcoholics I have seen
I concur.
Prohibition has consistently failed: 1930’s US, KSA & even Soviet Union
…..and include Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar too
I think if someone is willing to drink home-distilled alcohol then it simply exemplifies that they need an intervention. Food is a necessity — alcohol is not.
Yeah but letting some to reach the product and allow to consume but preventing others is not fair. Either make it legal and avail for all whoever wants to consume or prohibit it for all. Basic as it is. So far prohibiting something is not a solution as human nature seek to get whatever is forbidden. So live and let live. I also do not understand GCC nationals are not allowed to get liquor permit but they are allowed in bars and clubs. What this means? Is it legal to consume alcohol in this country or not. Better regulators make their mind up. Things will be much easier in that case.
Qataris can get a liquor permit
Like casinos in Singapore.. Locals are not allowed to enter… They don’t trust locals when it comes to gambling.. And qataris shouldn’t be trusted to consume alcohol so freely or cheaply… Trust me …
Exactly. How can it be Halal for some but Haram for the others.
They indeed need an intervention – ease the alcohol supply to whoever desires it.
While we’re on the subject. What does the below mean? That Qatari gentlemen are allowed in bars? Just love the reference to ‘sports attire’ when it’s at Champion Sports Bar of all places!
Yes thats correct Qatari women are not allowed in ANY bar in Doha.
Ofcourse there are ways around it, such as going to places like Trader Vic’s (as they are officially restaurants) or by booking a room in W hotel you automatically get on the guest list. So only have to show your room key to get in 🙂
Hmmm, such blatant gender discrimination is lawful in Qatar?
Well seeing as every bar has the same rule, I guess it is the law
Or, commonly done but with no basis in law, as seems to be the way with many things.
Qatari men, ostentatiously in thobes, are the mainstay of the beer drinkers at the Oasis Beach Club bar/restaurant…….the police could do an easy round up of boozing locals there………although some serious wasta at play keeps them away, I suspect.
Or the Oryx Rotana and Raddisson Blu …Thobe wearing drinkers there every day.
Such discrimination against women. How can this ever be acceptable in a fair and just society
Yes they are allowed in bars. Some bars don’t allow them to be in their thobes but some do.
@heisenberg was it you?
He’s more into chrystal meth!
any grass?
Where can I find some video head cleaner?
Meth is becoming a huge problem on Kuwait .. It’ll just be a matter of time till its produced in doha
Sadly drugs are a problem in Qatar and it doesn’t help when you have one of the biggest drug using population on your doorstep (Iran) and the major traffickers (Pakistanis) using Qatar as a route into Arabia.
No man, this is cheap stuff
Urban Dictionary defines sadeeqi as a strong drinking alchohol invented by the filipinos in saudi arabia for parties and occations. fermented from yeast and sugar….. sadiki · sadiqi · sadeeqi
As the saying goes “Sideeqi is my friend” 😉
‘Sid’ for short
Not sure of its origins, but Brits were running ‘stills in the early 70’s
I don’t understand the comment about toxic chemicals. One only needs sugar, water, and yeast. Nothing toxic there. But be sure to cut the result, at least by half!
The drink of the season in KSA was ‘Sid and Seven’ (that would be LOTS of Seven!!!)
Bottle of apple juice ,half a teaspoon of bread yeast…2 or 3 days later cider at about 6%…not hard to make..perhaps ban bread yeast?
…and burn some on a spoon before buying.
Yeah but letting some to reach the product and allow to consume but preventing others is not fair. Either make it legal and avail for all whoever wants to consume or prohibit it for all. Basic as it is. So far prohibiting something is not a solution as human nature seek to get whatever is forbidden. So live and let live. I also do not understand GCC nationals are not allowed to get liquor permit but they are allowed in bars and clubs. What this means? Is it legal to consume alcohol in this country or not. Better regulators make their mind up. Things will be much easier in that case
Tippex forever
engrish in za title iz vry gud
The brewing process looks like heineken’s to me :p
Looks like they have opened a local branch but without a local kafeel and that’s where the problem is
Blame it on the QDC for artificially inflating prices and forcing this poor workers to resort to such unsafe and unhealthy practices. Looks like FIFA and the local QDC would make for a ideal partnership and both could learn strange things on how to go about their monopolies. The police instead of harassing this poor workers should first raid QDC and check why they sell booze to some and not to the others. Perhaps corruption and corrupt practices taking their toll top to bottom
Alcohol consumption is tolerated yet a large number of people are prevented from enjoying it safely. This is like the American Prohibition, when thousands died or were maimed from drinking unsafe liquor, when the black market flourished. Keep people safe, control production and prices.