England fan walks SEVEN miles for pint in Qatar
An England fan has revealed how he had to walk seven miles before finding a Qatari bar which served beer.
Sam Greenhill, who works for the Daily Mail, said he decided to take the trek across the Gulf State after he couldn't get his hands on a cold one in the capital of Doha.
"The traditional Souk Waqif in central Doha is a stunning hub for fans and families alike," he wrote, as per Daily Mail.
"And last night there was a buzzing atmosphere as mums, dads and children mingled with excited and exuberant fans from across the world, including Argentina, Tunisia, England and Portugal.
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"But despite the festival atmosphere, absolutely nowhere offered a glass of beer or a glass of wine – understandable in a strict Islamic nation. So in keeping with the wishes of the clerics, I trudged three miles to the 'fan festival' area on Doha's picturesque Corniche, where I discovered a discreet Budweiser tent situated in one corner."
But once again, Sam was out of luck.
"Unfortunately, in no uncertain terms, she told me the Budweiser 'facility' was closed until tomorrow," Sam continued.
"Adding that even then it wouldn't open until 7pm and I could buy only four drinks of less than a pint each."
There's been much talk about the availability of alcohol at the 2022 World Cup.
On Friday, it was decided that fans could not buy beer from eight of the tournament's venues. This call was reportedly made following the demands of Qatar's Al Thani royal family.
"For a proper night out, I was advised to try a high-end hotel," Sam continued.
"However, central Qatar is gripped by officialdom terrified by the idea that they are about to be swamped by millions of fans. "To manage the expected influx, at every road junction there are several people sending you on a half-mile detour.
"Should you pass a subway train station, you can expect another mile of queueing to be actually allowed in. Eventually I was directed to a Best Western hotel.
"And because I had a passport confirming me as a non-Qatari citizen, I was allowed in. After my epic trek in sweltering heat, with blistered feet for my pains, a pint of cool, refreshing lager was finally mine.'
Would you travel seven miles for a pint? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
James Aldred