As a tourist in Doha, what are the rules on drinking alcohol in hotels?

The Wikivoyage page for Doha has this to say on buying alcohol there:

You can buy pretty much anything you want in Doha, apart from pork products and alcohol (except with a licence or in the major hotels)

That certainly gives you the idea, but is a bit light on the details of what is and isn't allowed if you are staying at or visiting a higher end hotel.

I'm currently staying in a hotel in Doha which does serve alcohol, but I don't want to get either myself or any staff of the hotel into any trouble. Does anyone know what the specific rules are?

(As an example of my confusion, my room has a fully stocked minibar, and there's a full bar downstairs, but I wasn't allowed to take a half finished alcoholic drink from the bar back to my room)

Best Answer

You can drink in your room or in a bar, basically anywhere alcohol is a available you can drink, no alcohol, no drink, that includes walking with a drink in public.

The reason behind this is the public resistance to "westernizing" the country, so government is trying to make everyone happy as much as possible, people who drink can drink in designated places, and the public won't feel the dramatic changes from their point of view.

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Can tourists drink alcohol in Doha?

Doha Alcohol RulesNo one under 21 is legally allowed to drink in Doha. To be admitted into bars and to drink alcohol in Qatar you must have either your passport or Qatari residents permit with you. Alcohol can not be brought into the country.

Which hotels serve alcohol in Qatar?

Alcohol is only served in a few of the 4 & 5* hotels. Sheraton, Intercontinental, Swissbel, Grand Regal to name a few. The last two are also near to Souq Waqif, Corniche and the Museum of Islamic Art so are quite convenient to do the popular tourist visits.

Can I drink beer in my hotel room?

It is not illegal for consumers to drink legally purchased liquor in hotel rooms booked in their names, according to Babu. He said liquor could be consumed in the privacy of a person's own home without a law prohibiting it.

Can I drink alcohol in hotels?

Excise Minister K. Babu has said that drinking legally purchased liquor in hotel rooms booked in the consumer's name cannot be deemed as unlawful.

Is Drinking Alcohol Allowed In Doha, Qatar?

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