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EXPLAINED: The rules, regulations and social norms of alcohol in Norway

Robin-Ivan Capar
Robin-Ivan Capar - [email protected]
EXPLAINED: The rules, regulations and social norms of alcohol in Norway
In this article, we will cover the general rules related to alcohol sales and consumption in Norway, drinking culture, and how social concerns led to alcohol being strictly regulated in the country. Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

Norway's relationship with alcohol can seem incredibly strange and complex at times. If you want to find out more about the country's drinking culture, you've come to the right place.

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If one is to trust widely held stereotypes, Norwegians tend to be somewhat shy and reserved in their day-to-day lives.

While this broad rule of thumb might apply to a part of the population on weekdays, it's an entirely different thing when it comes to the weekend.

Why, you ask? Mostly due to the widely beloved (and overpriced) social adhesive fueling parties across the country – alcohol.

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Alcohol-related laws and regulations in Norway

We're starting this deep-dive article with an overview of the relevant laws and regulations. The legal age for buying alcohol in the country is 18 for wine and beer but 20 for hard liquor (drinks with an alcohol content surpassing 22 percent, such as gin, are considered hard liquor in Norway).

Compared to most European countries, Norway's laws related to alcohol are pretty strict. First off, know that you aren't allowed to drink in public spaces in Norway (outdoor bar terraces are excluded from this rule).

Furthermore, the laws are especially tough on drunk drivers – remember that driving with more than 0.02 percent of alcohol in your bloodstream is illegal, with high penalties and fines if you are caught over the limit.

How and where to buy alcohol in Norway

If you plan on buying drinks during a night out (an expensive endeavour in Norway), know that most pubs, bars, and nightclubs have an age limit set at 20-22.

On the other hand, if you want to save some money by buying alcohol in the store, you'll also be faced with certain rules. All grocery stores sell beer and cider; however, they're prohibited from selling drinks with an alcohol content surpassing 4.75 percent.

Furthermore, grocery stores can only sell alcohol up to 8pm on weekdays and 6pm on Saturdays. On Sundays and a number of holidays, they usually don't sell alcohol – if they're even open at all.

To purchase something stronger than 4.75 percent you will need to head to a Norwegian institution – Vinmonopolet (the literal translation would be 'Wine Monopoly').

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Vinmonopolet

Vinmonopolet, often just called Polet by Norwegians, is the state-run alcohol store chain that has a monopoly on selling drinks with an alcohol content of over 4.75 percent.

Your first experience with Vinmonopolet is likely to look similar to this: You'll be walking down the street of a Norwegian city. Suddenly, you'll see a queue. A really long queue of people, young and old alike, patiently waiting.

What are they waiting for? You might ask yourself. More often than not, the answer will be: They're waiting for their turn to do some weekend alcohol shopping – or just restock their reserves – at Vinmonopolet.

Note: Polet shops usually close at 6pm on weekdays and 3pm on Saturdays, so make sure to do your shopping within opening hours. Individual Vinmonopolet stores can have different opening hours, so look up your store online and check if they're open before you make the trip.

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The social context of Norway's restrictive alcohol regulations

In the 1920s and 1930s, Norway decided it would implement a series of regulations to curb consumption and limit the sales of alcohol.

The key concerns of the politicians of the time were how alcohol consumption was driving social and health problems among the Norwegian population.

The measures included – among others – the creation of the aforementioned Vinmonopolet, limits on alcohol sales and purchases, and high tax rates.

Norway had several alcohol bans in place during the last 100 years, especially in the years following World War I – with the most recent ban being the one related to the coronavirus pandemic in 2021.

Norway's drinking culture

Drinking is very popular in Norway – from nights out in clubs to house parties among friends – expect to find alcohol involved in virtually any social environment. However, the vast majority of the drinking involved will not take place on workdays (with Friday evening being the obvious exception).

There is a social taboo against drinking on workdays – especially during work hours. However, once they clock out on Friday, Norwegians tend to leave all their restraint at the office – weekends often involve heavy partying.

House parties are quite popular in Norway, especially among young people. Don't expect a night out to start off at bars or pubs right away. With the price level of alcohol in Norway, Norwegians save a lot of money by "warming up" for a night out at a friend's place.

If you're attending a house party, make sure to bring your own alcohol. As the prices of alcohol are very high, people are expected to take care of their own drinks. Also, don't be surprised if guests take their leftover alcohol with them as they leave.

However, despite the sky-high cost of alcohol in the country, larger cities in Norway (such as Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, and Tromsø) have well-developed nightlife scenes.

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