As the home nations' World Cup journies gets off to a flyer, new independent research commissioned by Riot Labs has revealed football fans' nonchalant attitude to laws in Qatar. Respondents were asked what rules they’d be willing to break if they travelled to Qatar, even if it meant facing being arrested or receiving a fine:
- 24% said they’d chant Sweet Caroline at the top of their lungs in public
- 16% said they’d get as drunk as they do in their local boozer
- 8% would have no issue with stripping naked and streaking if their team scored
- 7% said they’d openly vape in a football stadium
- 6% said they’d smuggle vapes into the country
Despite intensive media coverage on Qatar, of the 1,000 football fans polled, 50% admitted to not knowing one law in Qatar. A further 45% revealed they knew less than two laws.
Fans are also being urged to swot up on the rules on vaping whilst in the Gulf state. The use of e-cigarettes has been illegal since 2014, and fans could face fines of up to 10,000 Riyals (around £2,200), or a maximum of three months in prison if they’re caught with one.
Riot Labs estimates at least 30% of the 20,000 England and Wales fans expected to travel to Qatar use e-cigarettes regularly (20%) or are ex-tobacco smokers (10%). The smoking triggers associated with live sporting events like the World Cup include alcohol, music, and fans’ teams winning or losing, which will make it increasingly difficult for those trying to give up smoking during the World Cup.
Riot Labs has developed a pilot scheme to pay fans’ fines if they’re arrested for vaping at the tournament.
Ben Johnson, Founder & CEO of Riot Labs, said: “Unfortunately, the laws do not favour e-cigarette users, and as the research shows, there’s still a lot of confusion and misguidance about what you can and can’t do whilst out there.
"Obviously attending a major football tournament is an incredible life experience for fans but treating Qatar like the beer garden at the local British boozer could land fans in hot water – even for just vaping. Socialising, alcohol, partying, sex – traditionally some of football fans’ favourite escapades - are all examples of major triggers for smoking tobacco and we hope our fines repayment scheme encourages fans to stick to e-cigarettes.
"With thousands of fans heading to Qatar, we wanted to make a bold statement with the pilot scheme to raise awareness of the laws around e-cigarettes. A large percentage of those fans will either have quit tobacco or are trying to quit smoking. The risk is quitters find themselves turning back to tobacco whilst at the tournament and spiralling into a new phase of tobacco addiction when they get back.
"Our mission has always been to help create a smoke-free world and tackling the issue head on with disruptive initiatives like this around major events is an effective way to do that."
Football fans can register their interest in the pilot scheme here.
