I'm not so sure Flor. The usual markup on alcohol in the restaurants in Qatar seems to be about 5-6 times, compared to what it's sold for at QDC. So the 40 QR bottle of wine I can buy at QDC costs me over 200 QR in a restaurant. That sounds like a pretty good profit margin to me, considering it's basically non-perishable and requires no preparation or attention, unlike foodstuffs.
Aside from that, a lot of people will consciously chose a restaurant that serves alcohol, even if the food is better at a place that doesn't serve alcohol. I can cook a meal at home just as I can open a bottle of wine or beer at home. If I'm going out, I'm looking for both.
So from my point of view, I am with Mandilulur on this - for some restaurants, this can make the difference between making money and going bust.
And on a broader note, this is reminiscent of the out of the blue decision that banks like QNB, Commercial and Doha Bank were just told overnight that they were to cease their Islamic Banking Operations. Whether or not the government has a right to change rules on a whim or not, it doesn't indicate an economy that will give investors confidence. If major rules like this continue to be changed without public consulation or advance notice, it isn't going to be the best steps forward in creating an investor friendly environment.
I'm not so sure Flor. The usual markup on alcohol in the restaurants in Qatar seems to be about 5-6 times, compared to what it's sold for at QDC. So the 40 QR bottle of wine I can buy at QDC costs me over 200 QR in a restaurant. That sounds like a pretty good profit margin to me, considering it's basically non-perishable and requires no preparation or attention, unlike foodstuffs.
Aside from that, a lot of people will consciously chose a restaurant that serves alcohol, even if the food is better at a place that doesn't serve alcohol. I can cook a meal at home just as I can open a bottle of wine or beer at home. If I'm going out, I'm looking for both.
So from my point of view, I am with Mandilulur on this - for some restaurants, this can make the difference between making money and going bust.
And on a broader note, this is reminiscent of the out of the blue decision that banks like QNB, Commercial and Doha Bank were just told overnight that they were to cease their Islamic Banking Operations. Whether or not the government has a right to change rules on a whim or not, it doesn't indicate an economy that will give investors confidence. If major rules like this continue to be changed without public consulation or advance notice, it isn't going to be the best steps forward in creating an investor friendly environment.