Ending Soon! Save 33% on All Access

Budweiser Cheekily Responds to FIFA's Alcohol Sale Ban at the World Cup FIFA and officials from Qatar, this year's host country, announced just days before the tournament began that alcohol sales would no longer be permitted inside of the stadium.

By Emily Rella

This year's World Cup has been rocked by restrictions due to strict rules in the predominantly Muslim country of Qatar.

Just days before the tournament began, FIFA and Qatari officials announced that the sale of alcohol would be banned, a huge detriment to Budweiser and parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev, which is now facing a surplus of beer that was meant to supply fans and spectators during the duration of the tournament.

The decision came as a surprise — and a major upset — to the company as the month-long alcohol sales ban will most likely mean quarterly revenue will take a hit.

Budweiser seems to be making light of the circumstances, however, by posting a photo of the surplus beer cases inside a warehouse.

"New Day, New Tweet. Winning Country gets the Buds," the company wrote. "Who will get them?"

The cheeky Tweet might have been a nod to a now-deleted Tweet by Budweiser over the weekend which reportedly said "Well, this is awkward" following FIFA's announcement that beverages would no longer be sold.

"We tried until the end to see whether it was possible," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said to press about the decision to instate the ban. "If for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive. Maybe there is a reason why in France, in Spain, in Scotland, alcohol is banned in stadiums.

Fans will still be able to purchase alcohol during the FIFA Fan Festival which takes place at night, though there will be restrictions on how much people will be permitted to purchase.

The World Cup kicked off on Sunday with a match between Qatar and Ecuador.

Emily Rella

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Models

How to Become an AI-Centric Business (and Why It's Crucial for Long-Term Success)

Learn the essential steps to integrate AI at the core of your operations and stay competitive in an ever-evolving landscape.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Career

Is Consumer Services a Good Career Path for 2024? Here's the Verdict

Consumer services is a broad field with a variety of benefits and drawbacks. Here's what you should consider before choosing it as a career path.