Drunk hairdresser faces lashing in Qatar Drinking alcohol is banned in Qatar except for non muslims who can obtain special licenses. A QATARI court has sentenced a Muslim barber from an unknown Asian country to 40 lashes over consuming alcohol in the Gulf state. The man was arrested following a complaint by another man who accused him of harassing his domestic worker by throwing a piece of paper at her with his phone number scribbled on it, according to a report in Al-Sharq daily. Police found the man drunk when they arrived, the report said. "As a Muslim, the sharia applies in his case," said the paper, referring to the Islamic law that prohibits alcohol consumption and is the main source of legislation in Qatar. In addition to the lashes the man was fined 500 rials ($134) for causing a disturbance. Alcohol consumption is banned in Qatar, except in hotels and for non Muslims who obtain special licenses.