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עמוד:*58
58 * receiving a license depended on the level of income, so some of the foreign workers couldn't purchase alcohol and get drunk . 98 This harsh attitude also had economic ramifications . In 2017, Doha planned to implement a new "sin tax" on goods that are "harmful to human health and the environment," as well as specific luxury items . The items included fast food, tobacco, and alcohol . 99 But later that year, the government decided to postpone the introduction of the new taxes for several months . According to the International Monetary Fund IMF ) , these taxes were canceled around the middle of 2018 . The postponement came ( amid a months - long Gulf dispute that has caused the price of food and transportation to rise in the country . 100 Either way, such restrictions may signal the government's efforts to balance the desires of national and expatriate populations . When asked about the reason behind these changes, one of the emir's advisors stressed that "alcohol is not essential to modernization" . 101 The advisor's quote should be read in the context of the growing awareness of alcohol problems . In June 2006, the Supreme Council for Family Affairs planned to create a facility to cater to the needs of an increasing number of youngsters suffering from drug addiction . One official said people were addicted to a range of substances, from narcotics to alcohol . 102 The Alaween Social Rehabilitation Center, opened in 2007 to treat addictions to alcohol, drugs, and Internet use . Moreover, the Supreme Council of Health ( SCH ) announced in October 2011 that Qatar will build a new center to help residents with addiction problems, and was already setting up a temporary facility in Al Rayyan to manage the people who need immediate help . Dr . Mohammed Al Thani, SCH’s public health director, told local media at a health care summit : "The center will cater to all kinds of addictions including alcohol and drug, even though drug addiction is not a big problem here" . 103 The fact that a new facility was being constructed, and a temporary center built for a transition period, in addition to Alaween center, was an indicator to a severe alcohol addiction problem in Qatar . Interview with the author, 13 August 2023 . 98 "QDC Tells Customers to Stock Up Before Qatar Raises Alcohol Tax", Doha News, 23 March 2017 99 https : / / www . dohanews . co / qdc - tells - customers - to - stock - up - before - qatar - raises - alcohol - tax / ( Accessed on 30 August 2021 ) . "IMF : Qatar is Postponing New Taxes on Junk Food and Alcohol", Doha News , 31 August 2017 100 https : / / www . dohanews . co / imf - qatar - is - postponing - new - taxes - on - junk - food - and - alcohol - 2 / ( Accessed on 30 August 2021 ) . Freer, Rentier Islamism , pp . 116 - 117,120 . 101 Barbara Bibbo, "Centre for Drug Addicts to be Set Up in Qatar", Gulf News , 21 June 2006 102 https : / / gulfnews . com / world / gulf / qatar / centre - for - drug - addicts - to - be - set - up - in - qatar - 1 . 241760 Accessed on 23 August 2021 ) . ( "Qatar : Plans to Build New Addiction Treatment Center Indicate Growing Social Problems", Doha 103 News , 19 October 2011 https : / / www . dohanews . co / qatar - plans - to - build - new - addiction - treatment - center / Accessed on 23 August 2021 ) . (
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אדמוני, אריאל
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