DEFIANT England fans have vowed to still “get p****d” before games in the wake of Qatar’s sudden stadium booze ban.
The announcement comes despite supporters previously being promised they could drink beer in stadiums throughout the tournament.
The stunning booze ban comes just two days before the tournament kicks off.
But while Fifa buckled under pressure from the Qatari authorities, it appears Three Lions fans won’t let it get in their way.
One supporter told The Sun: “It won’t dampen my experience too much because I will just get p****d before the games.
“That’s the way the cookie crumbles.”
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But not every fan had such a sunny outlook on the booze ban.
“To be honest I am very annoyed”, said another supporter.
“The whole time they have been telling us that you can buy booze in the stadium, which we were all very excited about.
“Now the day before the World Cup starts we have been told we can’t buy booze there.
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“Everyone knows that English people love a drink”.
The disappointed fan added that he now fears the ban could suck some of the atmosphere out of the stadiums.
He said: “Before I would be buzzing before game days and get to the stadiums early and get the drinks in, to get yourself hyped up for the game.
“Now there’s no point in getting there early.
“Just get there when the game kicks off. No drinks to buy so it will be a sober day really.”
The sudden alcohol U-turn comes amid fears over Qatar’s strict booze laws.
Alcohol isn’t illegal in Qatar, but there is zero tolerance for drinking in public and being drunk in public is a crime.
Drinking in a public place could result in a prison sentence of up to six months – and/or a fine up to QAR3,000, the equivalent of £696.29.
Visitors could find themselves nicked for public drunkenness even if they have only had a tiny tipple, due to the unclear nature of the host nation’s alcohol laws.
Last month, Qatar’s World Cup chief Al Khater said authorities will attempt to avoid arrests for fans that have had one too many by placing them in ‘sobering up tents’.
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He told Sky News: “There are plans in place for people to sober up if they’ve been drinking excessively.
“It’s a place to make sure that they keep themselves safe, they’re not harmful to anybody else.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
