Qatar has moved to further restrict alcohol sales in the emirate, ordering hotel restaurant and bars to cease all sales in the 10 days leading up to Eid al-Adha.
Alcohol sales in the state are already banned completely during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and on the Prophet’s Birthday holiday.
The website Doha News reported that several hotels had received a circular from the Qatar Tourism Authority informing them of the new rule. Eid al-Adha is expected to be on September 23 this year, meaning the ban would go into effect from September 14.
The website reported that the ban would apply to in-room minibars in addition to restaurant sales; however, ordering alcohol through room service is expected to be allowed.
Qatar’s growing restrictions on alcohol have proven controversial and problematic in the past, with several high-profile restaurants closing after sales were halted in the Pearl Qatar development in 2011.
The country has aims to become an international tourism destination, seeking to compete with the United Arab Emirates, but the more severe restrictions on alcohol threaten its competitiveness with Western tourists.
The United Arab Emirates also restricts alcohol sales to hotels, but authorities there have proven more flexible in licensing establishments in a bid to attract tourists.
The upcoming World Cup 2022 in Doha, already rife with controversy, also presents a challenge to the crackdown on alcohol sales.
In 2014, FIFA forced host country Brazil to overturn a decades-old ban on alcohol sales in stadiums.
“Alcoholic drinks are part of the FIFA World Cup, so we're going to have them. Excuse me if I sound a bit arrogant but that's something we won't negotiate,” FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said in January 2012 ahead of the Brazilian World Cup.
Qatar hasn’t announced regulations for alcohol sales during the event, with authorities only saying that they are searching for a “ creative solution ” that respects both local customs and FIFA’s regulations.