Alcohol could revive Pearl-Qatar - expert

Posted by: kas Wednesday, 30 January 2013 10:30 AM[UAE] - UAE

Errr - I know a place called The Walk on Jumeirah Beach in Dubai that thrives with no alcohol - The eateries are packed every night. Also - for those of you who are naive enough to think the F.A. would have awarded the World Cup to a country that was going to be dry and turned it's back on millions of dollors in sponsorship from the drinks companies- then you need to wake up!!! Qatar isn't dry - drink is freely available in 5 star hotels, just like the UAE and there is no chance of the country EVER being dry. (At least not until after the world cup!)Pearl isn't attached to a 5 star hotel - so therefore should be dry. It's simple really - rules are rules???!

Posted by: Jim Thursday, 24 January 2013 5:14 PM[UAE] - Bahrain

I think you will find that Bahrain will end up being the main base for football fans during the world cup. The Qatar-Bahrain Causeway will be in place by then so it will be a 40 minute drive from Manama which has the most liberal alcohol laws in the region. Drinks are available outside hotels so there are great little independent restaurants and bars. Strangely enough, it has some of the toughest Ramadan legislation with NO booze apart from private members clubs so I can only hope that it does not fall during July in 2022.

Posted by: Ahmad Monday, 28 January 2013 11:36 AM[UAE] - US

Ramadan in 2022 will be in April

Posted by: Qatari Thursday, 24 January 2013 2:52 PM[UAE] - Qatar

So you people are saying, as long as it makes economic sense then we should allow it? How about we open marijuana coffeshops, that would bring lots of tourists. Some people should learn to accept the choice of the citizens and respect the culture.

Posted by: ex Qatar Expats Thursday, 24 January 2013 2:45 PM[UAE] - Indonesia

dont listen to those alcoholic people. alcohol is bad to your health and your faith. just stay away from Allah's anger, and your people would be saved for the entire of your life.

Qatar and others GCC countries should invest more in education, technology, creative and health industry than invest in tourism who would/might endanger your people's faith and traditional culture with inappropriate/immoral habits of the tourists themselves.

Muslims have been experienced an advanced civilization for centuries without consuming alcohol, so why should we follow those alcoholic people's way?

Posted by: Telcoguy Friday, 25 January 2013 11:36 AM[UAE] - UAE

@Doug, I think you are not getting the picture here. The "choice" part (any "choice") is seen as a western idea while here conforming to established social norms is seen as preferable
Thanks for playing

Posted by: Doug Thursday, 24 January 2013 5:15 PM[UAE] - UAE

You don't have to follow 'those alcoholic people's way'. You could just let non-Muslims consume alcohol while you yourself stay away and bask in your sense of self-superiority.

People are talking as if the plan is to make everyone drink alcohol. It's actually about giving people a choice. If they make the wrong one, that's their problem.

Posted by: Anthony Brookes Wednesday, 23 January 2013 3:49 PM[UAE] - UK

My wife and I visit Qatar annualy and have watched the Pearl rise from the sea to its present state The restaurants do enhance the standard of living for both local people and expats and if alcohol is consumed sensibly in the retaurants and is regulated by local law it could benefit the businesses there It is when consumed recklessly that it causes a problem.We both admire and respect the Qatari people and the laws of the country and do not find the alcohol regulations onerus.We are just as happy with friut juice in the Souk as an apperatif in the hotels,but it is up to the legistators to decide what isappropriate.