Norway is known for its strict rules around the purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages, from high taxes to the state monopoly on retail sales. They’ve been loosening up in recent years, though, and now the government is proposing that both Norwegian wine, bubbly and spirits can be sold directly from the farms where they’re produced.
Norwegian cider producers have been allowed to sell direct to the public since 2016, instead of having to go through the Vinmonopolet retail system. As grape-growing and wine production expands in Norway, calls have also gone out for sales from vineyards, and there’s a majority in Parliament to the Labour government’s proposal to do so.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has also been keen to allow expanded hours for beer and wine sales during the upcoming World Cup. Football fans will be able to buy drinks long into the night, since some matches won’t even begin being broadcast until midnight because of the six-hour time zone difference between Norway and the US East Coast, where opening matches will play out.
Not everyone is happy about the liberalization, pointing to all the drunkenness and violence during recent 17th of May celebrations and the late-night partying by graduating high school students known as russ. The right-wing Progress Party, though, promises removal of even more restrictions if they get their way, including an end to the state monopoly (Vinmonopolet) and pouring round the clock.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
