For the first time, hotels in Qatar will not be allowed to sell alcohol in their bars and restaurants in the nine days leading up to Eid Al Adha this fall, as well as the first day of Eid itself.
Several hotels confirmed to Doha News that they received a circular from the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) earlier this month, informing them of the change.
While the dates for Eid have not yet been formally fixed and are dependent on the sighting of a new moon, Eid Al Adha is estimated to fall on Sept. 23. Thus, the ban would cover the 10-day period starting from approximately Sept. 14.
This would be in addition to an existing prohibition on the sale of alcohol during the month of Ramadan, which is expected to begin around June 18 this year. The first day of Eid Al Fitr is estimated to be July 18.
Hotels in Qatar also do not sell alcohol on the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed on Jan. 3.
Hajj season
A number of five-star hotels confirmed to Doha News that they had received the latest QTA notification, which is not expected to affect Qatar’s sole off-license QDC.
A representative of one hotel said that during the week or so leading up to Eid Al Adha, restaurants and bars would not be allowed to serve or sell alcohol, and minibars in guest rooms would not be permitted to stock it.
However, it is understood that guests would be able to order alcohol through room service, as long as it was consumed in private in their rooms.
The new rules cover the period known by Muslims as the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah, which is the twelfth and last month in the Islamic calendar.
During this time, Muslims from around the world travel to Makkah in Saudi Arabia to undertake Hajj (pilgrimage).
Even for observant Muslims who are not performing Hajj, the first 10 days of this month are believed to blessed days to undertake good deeds.
It is also a popular holiday time for many Qataris and nationals in the Gulf region, according to some hotel managers.
One added that her hotel was usually busy in the period leading up to Eid Al Adha and over Eid itself, particularly with families from Qatar enjoying “staycations,” as well as visitors from neighboring Saudi Arabia.
Hotels contacted by Doha News that they would comply with the latest directive, but were still unsure whether they would close their restaurants and bars entirely, or just not serve alcohol.
A representative of one popular five-star hotel who asked not to be named, said:
“When we opened in Qatar, we knew that there are certain rules and procedures when it comes to religion here.
This period is Hajj season, which is a very holy month for Muslims. We respect QTA’s decision and of course we will abide by it as we stick to the customs and traditions of the country. If this rule is being applied to all hotels in the city, then we just have to follow it and live with it.”
Alcohol debate
The debate over alcohol sales in Qatar has been raised several times in recent years, as the nation struggles to hold on to its conservative Islamic culture amid rapid development and growth.
In late 2011, for example, restaurants on The Pearl-Qatar were ordered to stop selling alcohol. Many complained of tumbling sales following the ban, and some even ended up closing their doors for good.
The prohibition remains in effect today, but does not include the recently-opened Marsa Malaz Kempinski hotel, which is licensed.
Meanwhile, in November 2013, new restrictions were introduced that stopped hotels from selling alcohol in public areas, including their lobbies and at their beaches and pool bars.
Thoughts?
More importantly when will the QDC close?
The day after the closing ceremony of WC2022, inshalla!
And with the QDC subsidization gone, Qatar Airways will increase your airfares, Inshallah!
By then there will be more options and probably even Open Sky here 🙂
You stand a much better chance of owning a private Learjet than enjoying Open Skies by 2022, so start saving now 🙂
yes probably and then you will also see empty hotels and many other destinations!
Might as well close the airport too.
in fact! Ahahahahah!!!
Reopen the old one if there’s enough room for the teddy bear 🙂
Qatar spokesmen for Tourism Authority Bin Donehavingfun said, “by enacting this new rule we enhance the five star tourist experience in Qatar. By adopting quaint, bizarre rules like this we believe we will encourage tourism numbers to soar in our tourism friendly country”
Local travel agents and those promoting Qatar aboard described the situation as “nuts”
i personally dont drink, so this kind of doesnt affect me ( I still enjoy going out though)
but QTA isnt the best advised company in Qatar, heck if you look at the statistics they publish closely you’ll realise that it isnt accurate at all..
… yes of course this will encourage tourism – if by that you mean encouraging tourists to go to the UAE, or elsewhere that tollerates the choise of the individual to drink in accordance with their own faith and not to upset others
Nothing wrong with this decision. The main occupants during that season are from Saudi, mainly Saudi families. And yes they prefer places without alcohol and drunk people making a mess.
and how are you so sure about that. Actually drunk people out here don’t make much noise at all and in case they do it is not supposed to be noticed
I work in the hotel industry and very well know how some drunk people act.
the same Saudi’s we see in Bahrain’s ‘hotels no sleep sir’?
Nope. That is a much younger crowd mostly singles. This is families. They come in huge contingents, book quite many rooms. Qatar seems to be in competition with so many other destinations fighting for the halal tourism market.
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/life-style/travel-and-tourism/2014/10/20/Moscow-hotel-goes-halal-in-bid-to-woo-Muslim-visitors.html
There are dry upscale hotels (Anantara, Movenpick Tower, Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels, Torch, Grand Heritage, Al Shaqab) that customers can choose if they can’t bear to be on the same premises where alcohol is served.
As with everything in Qatar, the real issue for me is not so much the cultural or religious debate as the anti-business climate. Alcohol for hotels is an important profit center, but the authorities just change the rules on a whim in a way that affects profits.
You could say that a ten-day period is relatively small in the grand scheme of things, but combined with the other constantly-changing, capricious rules — which are not made in a collaborative format with open dialogue among stakeholders, as in a democracy — I don’t see why anyone would invest his money in Qatar. And indeed outside oil and gas, foreigners don’t invest here much.
Why is the QTA interfering in my life. What I choose to do in my spare time is my business, not theirs and I do not appreciate their moralising on my behalf. Do what you are supposed to do and promote toursim in Qatar and run an efficient industry. They allow open prostitutions in their establishments which seems fine to them, but want to impose other bans on law abiding residents of Qatar. Shameful hypocrites.
Is open prostitution allowed in Qatar? Or you are talking about your country?
Are you kidding me? Let’s see. The Sheraton, the Raddison Blu, the Mercure, Marriot Courtyard to name a few and who could forget Ho-asis. (Oasis)
You might have just put a few people out of business…
I’m not sure whether it’s “allowed” in Qatar, but on the evidence of the many Chinese prostitutes (what does their work visa say?) in the hotels then it’s obviously tolerated. As for alcohol, there is certainly one hotel bar where local Qatari openly drink alcohol, even in national dress. Yet the ban will not apply to people of whatever faith who order alcohol in hotels through room service. As MIMH says it’s the hypocracy that is difficult to accept, but in my opinion also the inconsistency of these decisions and the intolerance of other faiths and cultures.
It’s an impossibility to debate this issue in an open forum , The “Just Leave My Dear” brigade will be out shortly and it’ll descend into utter madness.
You’re right on every point . The hypocrisy of the whole thing stinks to high heaven .
Sorry reporter but I think not allowing bars to operate few weeks a year is showin tolerance of faith and future by the expat community to their local hosts
I tell you what – as a sign of faith by the expat community in the western world, for three weeks a year we will ban the slaughter of animals by having their throats cut and being allowed to bleed to death.
Yes and ban kosher food also. Would love to see how that goes. AIPAC and their loyal set of senators would never allow that to be passed.
See this is what I call arguing like a 12 yr old. Next you’ll stick your tongue out. You made a valid point about tolerance and I countered about the expat community be tolerant of thier hosts culture by accepting not to drink in hotel bars for an extra ten days in a year, yet you reserve the right to drink yourself to he grave in the comfort of your own home and friends homes. Unfortunately for you, though drinking is very much part of the western culture, so is hunting and eating meat. So speak of yourself if you take offense. In which case I hope your a vegetarian cause no one wants to be called out being a hypcrite. Like the expat wife’s who preach human rights as they’re over worked and under paid maids scrub their compound home toilets
It’s not about other faiths and cultures. It is about being a good Muslim and not supplying alcohol or a place from which alcohol can be supplied. Qatar is not a secular state.
Allowed or tolerated, depends on who provides them visas to come and who runs the trade inside the hotels. I would find it surprising if the hotel or someone connected to the hotel is not making their cut…..
do you want I tell you a few places where is so open that only a blind could not see it????
open but not legal.
Deleting this thread for going off topic.
Party pooper
LOL – Did you mean “pooper”?
Yes why what did u read
You’re assuming I can read.
Drunk expat its 4.30 tues afternoon
And I’ve still got to fly the 5:15 to LHR!
Don’t forget the selfie with the teddy bear
I go direct to my plane and miss all that. Comes with the uniform.
It is not the same as back home. The trade is outsourced. The locals look better but the punishment would likely be quite severe.
Moralising on your behalf….someone’s gotta do it! I kid, I kid, but pretty much how that’s done in most of the world, save North America, the “moralising” read, ethical conduct of business, is collective rather than individual, european trade unions are a shining example, you can see it in the structure of communities and families as well, Africa and the ME are quite tribal, India and Pakistan generally similar with close knit, family based communities; the pop over the Atlantic and you have….quite a different picture of individualisim.
But should a country and an economy – particularly one that wants to be a fully functioning member of the international community – be run by tribalism?
Not just Qatar, ethical responsibilities are socially controlled in most of the world, ie. through government, trade unions, corporate associations, public associations and the like. Not really a matter of should it be; it’s just how decisions are made, the old business ethics jokes come to mind, it’s not really about morality, it’s more about understanding why decisions are made, as all decisions are driven by some kind of value or principle
And there I was thinking they were driven by money.
Lol are we talking about business or people, money is the driver, and the hotels want to keep making money, so they have to decide if it’s worth the cost of doing business, my guess is that it probably is worth it for them
relatively speaking comparison to the other 200 countries in the world what you call “tribalism” hasn’t faired too bad
I would suppose that depends on what you’re measuring.
I think you can be fairly sure this doesn’t originate with QTA…..use your imagination.
I know QTA is just the messenger, no one likes to stand behind their own decisions here, too many cowards…..
No man just no one cares enough to answer to you or other disgruntled expats.. So they allow the correct authority to make the announcement
I know this also, but they make a new rule that affects only expats. (because of course we know locals don’t drink at hotels or restaurants…)
So make an effort you all expats and make friends with locals who rather drink in hotel rooms or their secret safe flats and houses .., you’d br suprised how much you have in commen when you all are floored
i’ve been to plenty of locals houses where the drinks cabinent is well stocked and a good time was had by all, but I like hanging out in bars. Maybe watch some football, talk about nonsense and then grab a taxi home. I’ve not bothered anyone, not harmed anyone so why penalise me. (I’ve also enjoyed business trips with my Qatari colleagues and drunk the bars dry in foreign climes….)
Why don’t you stay at home (like me) and get drunk. Let those who want (or who have to) stay sober. Where is it any of your business?
“Freedom is the acceptance of the necessities” said F. Hegel, a German philosopher. If you fight against the necessities you will always suffer. If the state deems it necessary to ban alcohol for some days for whatever reason, accept it. Do something else in the meantime. Or fight it, and get frustrated.
Trying to reply with some Milton but Doha News will not let me.
What does a poet have to do with it?
If you are going to quote Hegel then I’m allowed a repost from Milton
Well, actually I translated what he’d said in German. So it’s not a real quote. It’s what I’ve made out of it.
Ha ha ha! Milton!
“Why is the QTA interfering in my life.” They aren’t. They just don’t offer alcohol on some days. So, it is not available. They don’t interfere in your life.
Only if one is a poor planner.
The QTA aren’t interfering in your life choices. Get your alcohol and drink it in the privacy of your room.
Don’t smoke shisha in public, smoke in the privacy of your own room
Comparing smoking shisha and alcohol. Another gem from the selp proclaimed ” I know it all”. I have known someone lose his senses, drive like a maniac, create a mess or become violent under the influence of shisha.
There is no country where you are allowed to drive under influence so I fail to see your point.
I don’t want to breathe your carcinogens in your smoke. Why can’t you be respectful to others including the children that frequent souq waqif. You should save it for your own room if you must smoke. To cause harm to others is shameful
If that’s your logic, stop driving vehicles. The CO being released is quite harmful especially for children.
or we could live and let live. Let me drink in the bars of that is my choice and you can smoke your shisha. Don’t put your wants above mine
lol, you need an exist permit every time you want to leave the country, and this is what you consider to be “interfering in my life”?!
Don’t get people going now!
Does he need an exit permit too? Poor thing.
No I have a multi exit permit, my condition of employment…..
Smart. See people it’s what you accept as terms of your employment that dictate the sort of life you will live in Doha. If you have zero leverage in negotiating a contract then be careful about your
move to Doha
Qatar’s not so bad, in fact you can have a very nice life here. You accept some things and complain about others. I’m not here for the money but the interesting work. However the crazy rule changes p!ss you off, not just us moaning expats but the locals as well.
You’re not here for the money? You can have a nice life in Doha? Nice compared to where exactly? MIMH I always read your posts with interest and sometimes admiration but I am now seriously worried about your mental health.
I maybe crazy but some come for the adventure and an interesting job. I get paid well but that’s not my motive for being here
Yeah right!
I second the “yeah right”.
You can choose to believe me or not but I have an interesting job, I spend a lot of time out of the country on business and Qatar is central for traveling to interesting places. Plus I even like the food here and I’m never cold….
Still an exit permit nonetheless 😉
But you still wouldn’t leave. Just keep whining about this place.
I love that typo (“Exist permit”) – lol – Freudian, perhaps ;-p
Ooops, just saw that. You know, it may very well be 😉
Speaking of moralizing on people’s behalf and life interference. Me being a Qatari, I am not allowed to issue an alcohol permit nor am I allowed to get into QDC to buy alcohol.
Slavery? Racism?
whatever it is, enjoy the f****** money because I think that money is what it is.
I’m not sure if, “enjoy the f****** money because I think that money is what it is.” is meant for me or MIMH, but whatever, have a nice day 🙂
Nothing personal, it is directed towards anyone that would give up their values for money.
There are countries like India where alcohol is banned on 2nd of October, birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Criticizing this issue is not a nice idea…I guess..
In Ireland, Alcohol is not sold on Good Friday and Christmas day! Can you believe! In Ireland, with all the drinking stereotypes!!
Haha. Not if you know the places to go.
I didn’t realize Gandhi was a Muslim. Is bacon not sold on his birthday as well?
South Carolina bans alcohol sales during election day.So I guess according to your logic, they must be a muslim state?
This is perfect stand up comedy material. When you performing? You always crack good jokes when you try to be serious.
So the problem is not alcohol ban, it is the Muslim country banning alcohol for a certain period in public….
Top ten signs you have a drinking problem:
1. “Alcohol is my life.”
It probably won’t affect me so I don’t really care that much, it does baffle me though. Muslims shouldn’t be drinking anyway so what is the purpose of stopping non-muslms from drinking?
Thirsty work on the hajj, so you need a stiff drink before you go….
Watch your mouth.
Calm down Tiger , i know irony is not your strong point !
I’m not sure where or how you claim to know me considering I just made this account, but I don’t think you know the meaning of the word ironic.
Dontcha think
you are joking aren’t you JT?
I would if I could get a drink in it…..
What’s his/her mouth going to do if they watch it?
Deleting this thread for devolving into attacks.
Did I miss something?
Nothing earth-shattering 🙂
It’s not about Muslims not drinking. It’s about Muslims not making alcohol available to anyone.
I get that, but whats the point in it? Its non muslims serving alcohol to non muslims
Yeah that is so bad, like Muslims serving halal meat to Muslims. Who cares, each to their own
Its about non muslims getting drunk and disturbing the only tourists, our dearest neighbours Saudis. They don’t like it. So in simple terms, your largest clientele being happy .
I do not believe QTA made this decision. It was decided on behalf of QTA. QTA is simply forwarding the MEMO 🙂
I couldn’t care less as this decision does not impact me for I do not drink and I do not frequent hotels or hotel restaurants. But it does exclude a huge stream of revenue for several outlets in Doha, who are probably only open because of the revenue alcohol brings in.
I have to give credit though, at least they gave a few month heads up rather than the usual night before warning…
I tend to agree with that . It usually happens 3hrs before so something worked in the planning meeting. Whilst it wont affect me as i’ll just go without and have a drink in private or with friends i do wonder why these decisions are made . It doesn’t have much reasoning and it only has an effect on non-muslims .
Whilst i feel it is right and courteous during Ramadan i just think this is another PR disaster . Good job the winter dates of 2022 have been decided eh !!
Whatever decisions QTA takes, hotels are obliged to follow them taking into account the conservative values here. What I don’t understand is how one particular hotel in Pearl gets license while others do not….
Repeat slowly, W A S T A, was-ta, wasta
Lol. I am repeating it slowly, like in a séance. I hope it will dredge up a ghost of wasta for me that I can take possession of, and flex my wasta muscles. ; )
What do you mean Wasta? It’s simple; the rules for hotels on The Pearl are the same as rules for hotels everywhere else in Qatar, and the rules for non-hotel restaurants on The Pearl are the same as the rules for non-hotel restaurants everywhere else in Qatar.
It’s called Wasta
I don’t think so, it’s called Kempinsky, not a Qatari chain right? So you want this chain? Qatar said: yes. Kempiksy said: there must be alcohol. Take it or leave it. And they took it with the very fine cousin restaurants!
But then if they really want it but not the booze why don’t they just buy the Kempinsky chain and change the rules.
maybe the Kempisky does not sell……it’s German. Don’t forget once they sold 20% of Porsche to Qatar after a few years they bought back a 10% of what they sold
The building will be owned by the big Wasta player . The hotel just brings the brand like all major hotel deals here. A kind of Landlord / Tenant scenario and the this landlord will be very very powerful !
yes, however it is a matter of image of the chain …don’t you think?
or image of the owner?
image for the chain
There is only one hotel on The Pearl, so no unfair treatent in that sense. Could it be that the hotel is freehold, whilst the restaurants on Porto Arabia lease from UDC and UDC has Shari’ah commitments due to a number of investors?
Head of the nail, meet Mark!
What is next year new law? or this December? Anyone knows?
Still mulling 🙂
I thought Qatar was progressive.
definition?
open minded, freedom of non muslims to worship as they see fit (or not to) live and let live attitude
You forgot freedom to attack and kill blacks, freedom to attack muslims and mosques, freedom to shoot down people just because of their faith and then call it a “parking dispute”. Freedom to carry guns to schools and kill anyone in your sight.
Democratic, libertarian and secular. I think you might be looking for Sweden.
No still oppressive and heading Ina spiral down fall back to the Middle Ages.. Quickly book a ticket out of here
ETA till the fall is inevitable? 1 year? 5 years?
Well with the state of the globalised economy, there’s balance, or rather attempted balance, and the playing field is diverse and complex, the business case for implementing a ban is going to be along the lines of legitimacy in the eyes of communities to practice your business (a huge chain hotel is probably looking beyond these points in Qatar alone), attracting investors, partners, building reputation and trust, keeping good in the eyes of financial institutions and regulators etc. A company could take one of four modes of social responsiveness to a topic like this: reactive, defensive, acoomodative or pro-active. It’s ultimately the cost of doing business in a globalised economy, it should be part of the sustainability planning for these businesses, and likely they take a reactive or accomodative stance. McDonalds had an interesting case in europe that could easily be transposed; coming under attack for high calorie meals and encouraging childhood obesity from nutritionists, in the end they changed their menu, raised awareness for diabetes and obesity, sports sponsorship, rainforest alliance and fair trade coffee, now if you look at the hotels here, they have to deal with a diverse range of people, including nutritionists, conservative locals, government, expats etc. Their business of selling alcohol to say expats can come under threat from the conservative members of the government and society, so likely they will do what they’re told, what they won’t do is probably take a McDonalds approach and hit the response to the conservatives hard, other than maybe a Ramadan tent and some Eid specials, they’ll mostly leave them alone, now I’m interested to know if that’s to keep their head down and avoid being called a hypocrit (something you could argue McDonalds is?), or if they’re just not interested. Maybe someone who works in HM could shed light on that.
I leave for good July 2nd. This place is going backwards. And they are hoping for more tourism. Yeah, not gonna happen.
Saudi’s are the only tourists here and thats the market . You could never ever attract people here when you have Dubai / Abu Dhabi and Oman close by .
They know that and we know that . Saudi’s bringing their families and staying at the St Regis is big big business , the kids can annoy the other guests whilst the adult males can get banjaxed on overpriced Malt . The hypocrisy of these people is astounding .
Not even as a stopover?
No , if you stopover you fly Emirates or Etihad and see DXB/AD , people fly QR on price and price only . The heavily discounted fares are not aimed at stopover passengers , they’re aimed at people who want to get to A to B usually from Europe to the sub-continent/ Far East . Sure they’ll be the curious and the lost but it’s negligble in numbers.
The tourisim here is basically just a facade . The Saudi’s are the big numbers and will continue to stream in . Remember driving through the Salwa border to go to the cinema is classed as tourisim and it works for both parties.
And of course they’re not coming for the alcohol are they?
political stability might be quite appealing as well!
Well considering you can enter UAE, Bahrain, Oman etc with duty free alcohol, but you can’t do that in Qatar, then no, they’re not.
You can’t bring alcohol to Qatar… But you can get it at the QDC at triple price and make Al Baker richer. Reflect your respect. Values. Yeah right…
lol! And that’s one reason why I stopped flying QA!
Oman is tightening alcohol rules, too, see, e.g., http://www.thenational.ae/business/travel-tourism/proposed-alcohol-ban-likely-to-hit-oman-tourism-sector.
That country seems to be going in a similar direction to Qatar — the older more visionary generation that saw really hard times felt compelled to modernize, while the younger coddled generation has the luxury of caring less. Of course, unlike Qatar, Oman can’t really afford to lose its tourism appeal.
Don’t forgot to write us… You say backwards others say forward.. You say less tourist others say more tourist.. Views differ no need to be bitter …
It is hard to see how less alcohol could spell more tourists. After all there only about a billion Muslims in the world.
and only about 50% of muslims drink….
that’s more than 5 people isn’t it?
we should call you Statistics Man
No I prefer to be called BS Man. When I see it, I call it.
and when you don’t know it, you BS it?
He’s always BSing. When has he ever made sense? Seems to be a self obsessed person.
About 50% drink. LOL. Another gem from the “self proclaimed I know everything” professor.
LOL. Nice joke. You should try your hands on stand up comedy. You are funny.
Good riddance!
Suits me not having to read your generally pretty ridiculous comments anymore.
Are you sure that past July 2nd we won’t see you here again not only reading comments, but commenting as well on the affairs of this “backward” place? We shall see if you can move forward 😉
Why would I bother reading about somewhere that no longer has any effect on any aspect of my life after I leave here?
I keep wondering the same about people who have left but still cannot stop themselves from doing that 😉
Yes, I’m sure there are a few!!
Are you one of those expats fired by oil and gas companies?
Nope. I’m leaving on my own volition.
Very bad decision. You will regret it if you are European. You will go back to the land of misery, food banks and burglaries.
An European could be going back to Monaco or to Moldova. To suggest that all European countries are the same is as dumb as saying that living in Qatar is, like, living in the land of mass executions.
Strange thing to say when half of Africa are literally dying to get to Europe and where Muslims enjoy greater freedom than in most of the world.
Are you comparing his situation to Africans dying to reach Europe? I do not think he is that desperate. The luxury, quiet and peaceful life Qatar gave you cannot be found anywhere in Europe, or let’s say in a very limited number of countries.
Really? That is why the gulf Arabs flock to Europe each summer for months on end.
You really don’t know what you are talking about.
Assuming all Gulf Arabs flock to Europe each summer is stupid.
Muslims enjoy greater freedom than in most of the world- LOL!!!
Deleting this thread because it is off-topic.
1 down, so many more remaining.
The LOCALS do NOT have control of their own actions to RESIST the temptations of devil alcohol and pork ??
maybe, just maybe, they can try to resist the temptation of slavery with poor Indians and Nepalese!
Are you being sarcastic??
Deleting this thread because it’s devolving.
With some of its more recent moves, QTA does seem to be restricting the appeal of Qatar as a destination, which is contrary to the normal role of a tourist authority…unless that is, the sole target are Saudis. I feel the tentacles of creeping conservatism. I’m not critcising, just an observation.
it is never been a destination ….really!
but a stopover?
well big difference if we are talking about tourism. Let’s call things by their real names
I mean with the rail link, it may become a more appealing destination for the GCC, not a bad market these days
No problem!
I will stock up (just for the sake of being against Prohibitionism) and boycott all those places where you can eat with a glass of wine and they won’t get my money! So simple!
Not surprised at all of these measure of going back. So curious to see how they will handle during the WC.
$crew you and your money!
Deleting for attack.
Lol Doha news hahaha my god
I can’t keep up with the comments .. Forget LC accidents and slave labour.. Want to generate clicks out alcohol or pork in the title…
Relax ppl no one is pulling the bottle from your hand just no more 6 hr friday brunchs at five star hotels for ten days leadin up to eid
that’s not too whole Fridays is it?
I’m afraid soo… Expat families will just have to bare each other and have to have sober conversations across the table as their non oppresed nannies feed the kids on the kiddie table :))
Sounds hellish. Will surely lead to a lot of divorces.
Any recommendations on good places for Friday brunches really want to take the family heard the spice market is good ..
Never could take them as I imagine Friday brunch with alcohol being like a sence from the walking dead only with drunks heading in for more shrimps
It’s the way they combine the coffee and the hair of the dog that is really hard to stomach.
I’m lost on that one
Believe it or not there are people who need to drink coffee to get over their hangover at the same time they start drinking alcohol again – to get over their hangover.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2732468/Got-hangover-Carry-drinking-Scientists-say-hair-dog-best-way-feel-better.html
Inception much ?
I can’t stand brunches, so I don’t care. But the fact that if I am going with my family or friends to eat once in a while in a nice restaurant and love with my good food a good glass of wine is normal. So I won’t go and they won’t get my money. Simple.
Nothing personal but I don’t think anyone really cares.
at least that saves you some money for the future 😛
It’s religion or custom related ban. They haven’t banned 100% the sale of alcohol.
I wish they would , i hate hangovers in the summer !
Qatar is a happy place and you don’t need no alcohol for happiness! Sweet mother of god I have never seen comments coming up so fast! Alcohol! More important than any other issue it seems!!
“You don’t need no alcohol for happiness!” – Thanks for deciding that one for me.
You do if you’ve lived here for a few years !
The 3 d’s of Doha – Drunk, dotty or divorced.
is that the plight of the alcoholics here?
i thought it was the plight of all
It’s not about the alcohol , it’s about the whole governance issue surrounding it and how it’s implemented and why it’s implemented . The world usually uses process and logic in most decisions . There’s none here .
There’s definitely some logic. If as a Muslim you believe it is wrong to supply alcohol it’s quite logical to not do so.
Then be a good muslim and ban alcohol all together .
Some do. Some don’t.
The ultimate guilty pleasure for some .
or secret act of defiance?
Do they?!
What’s the logic in pot not only being illegal in most parts of the US, with some people ending up in jail for many years for selling or presumed to sell it, while alcohol can be alcohol, more harmful, and guns, more dangerous and kill more, are quite easily obtainable? Not so logical, is it?