Qatar warns fans about smuggling alcohol into country ahead of World Cup

The countdown to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is now at 73 days.

Even though kickoff is still over two months away, officials are already taking precautionary measures regarding alcohol consumption in the country.

"Fans travelling to the 2022 World Cup will not be able to take alcohol for personal consumption into Qatar, with the head of the country's safety and security committee saying that 'specific measures' are in place to take action against anyone attempting to smuggle liquor in their luggage," ESPN's Mark Ogden reports. "Although alcohol is strictly restricted in Qatar -- drinking in public can lead to fines of up to 3,000 riyal (£720) or prison sentences up to six months -- it can be purchased inside hotels, and the supreme committee in charge of the tournament has agreed to make beer -- provided by World Cup sponsor Budweiser -- available at stadiums and in fan zones during the World Cup, which begins on Nov. 20."

Ogden wrote about how "high consumption" of alcohol during the early stages of the 2018 World Cup in Russia led to some Moscow bars running out beer. According to Ogden's report, Qatari authorities have said that alcohol availability will be limited to designated areas only and fans will not be allowed to bring outside beverage alcoholic beverages.

"There are specific measures," Colonel Jassim Abdulrahim Al Sayed of the safety and security operations committee told ESPN at a news conference in Doha. "I think alcohol will not allowed through the airport and suitcases. ... There are locations where alcohol will be sold throughout the country."

There will be a fan fest at the tournament that serves alcohol only after 6:30 p.m., even though some games will begin earlier in the day.

"There is a misconception about alcohol sales in stadiums and designated zones," Qatar 2022 chief executive Nasser Al Khater said. "We are working like any other World Cup, like usual. ... Very simply, we have always stated that the sale of alcohol available in Qatar and will make it available in specific zones. ... The fan fest will serve from 6:30pm, but it will attract a lot of families and children and we want to give them opportunity to be in alcohol-free zone for certain parts of the day. Later, the fans will have alcohol readily available."