DOHA: Toasting a win will be a very different experience at next year’s World Cup in Qatar, where football fans can only drink in certain places and must respect Islamic customs. In a country where public intoxication is illegal, the usual sight of boozy supporters thronging the streets is likely to be absent from the first World Cup in the Middle East. Instead, most of the drinking will take place at the official fan zones or at licensed restaurants or hotels. It looks unlikely that ordinary ticket-holders will be able to drink at games, although no decision has been announced. FIFA is offering hospitality packages, starting at $950 and soaring to $4,950 for a group match, that include alcohol and other perks.
Alcohol “will be available in additional fan and hospitality locations”, the world football body said in a statement. According to Akbar Al Baker, chairman of the Qatar Tourism Authority, there will be “as much alcohol as you want”. Fans will arrive at Doha’s dry…