The Booze Souk

If you were to ask what the hardest part about living in a foreign country is, you might hear a various list of things: the language barrier, the culture shock, the time difference, etc. Some might even mention the fact that living in the middle east especially hard because in some places, you cannot have a nice glass of wine after a long day at work. But not in Qatar! Qatar is not entirely dry; if you are not Muslim, you are able to (with the consent of your sponsor), obtain a license to purchase alcohol. 

So, I introduce to you the Qatar Distribution Company, or more fondly known as The Booze Souk. Read More...

When I first arrived in Qatar, we were placed in a hotel. We had to give up our passports for our visa. I can say that people were just as displeased with those two items as they were with our lack of liquor licenses. But, I cannot lie that, if I had at least been able to drink a bottle of wine after these things, I might have felt better about the situation. 

So finally, one day, the letters arrived. To do a variety of things in Qatar, such as opening a bank account, getting a loan, or leaving the country, you must get permission. My sponsoring company was ultimately responsible for all of my actions while I resided in the country. So, in order to get a liquor license, my company had to give me a letter stating that they did not object to my drinking alcohol. 

After receiving our letters, we set off to the QDC. It is located on a weird side road outside of the main area of Doha. There is a small parking lot that is always crowded. 

Once you have your letter, you head to the permit office. You take a number and wait your turn. You are finally called in and you have to hand over your letter. It not only states that you are allowed to get a permit, it also states your salary on it. You are only allowed to purchase a certain percentage of your monthly salary on alcohol to curb your alcoholic nature (maybe? Not really sure the reasoning...).

After you sign a paper in which you have to state your religion, you must pay a 1000 riyal (~275 USD) deposit. After they take a lovely and flattering picture of you (not), they print your ID and send you on your boozey way.

Once you get to the front doors, you flash your new ID and enter paradise.

Alochol!

When you first enter, you walk by a plethora of hard alcohol.

You move past stacks of boxed wine...

Walls of beer...

into a whole room full of wine.

I rarely needed my own cart, so you would normally share with whoever you came with. But everything sure does add up!

But, you soon came around the bend to my favorite section of the store. PORK!

Pork is also something that is banned in Qatar, as it is a Muslim country. So, inside the alcohol store is a small walled off area that sells pork products. The products tended to rotate in and out, but you could buy from something as small and silly as bacon flavored chips to salami, pork belly to pulled pork, even larger chunks of meat. The bacon was probably the most popular item.
I have never cared much for pork, but being told that I couldn't eat it made me ravenous for it. The bacon was essentially a salt lick and a package of salami with 15 slices costs 10 dollars, but I always stocked up.

We joked a lot about the booze souk, but it sure came in handy. There was nowhere else in the country you could buy vanilla extract (I made my own!) or even red wine vinegar for cooking. A trip to the booze souk was always an adventure. You go in, flash your VIP card, and leave feeling like a superstar. Sometimes you even come out with a free selfie stick. You never know what you're going to find at the world famous booze souk!

One of my very last errands before leaving the country was to return to the booze souk to return my card (but don't miss the window as it closes during the month of Ramadan!). I did seriously debate just keeping it as a souvenir, but I wasn't sure if it was worth 275 dollars. 

Maybe if it had said Pork and Liquor License...