Like in several other European countries drinking alcohol is an important cultural factor in Norwegian society
That being said, alcohol legislation tends to be a lot stricter in Norway, even compared to its Scandinavian neighbors, Sweden and Denmark.
In this article, we will take a look at the main aspects of Norwegian alcohol legislation, and the dos and don’ts of drinking alcohol in Norway.
Alcohol legislation in Norway
If you are visiting Norway for the first time, it might be surprising to learn that Norway has much tighter alcohol legislation than many European countries.
For example, while advertisements for alcohol are commonplace in many countries, Norway has upheld a strict ban on alcohol advertising since 1975.
In Norway, there are also various laws and regulations surrounding the sale of alcohol, which include:
- Requiring a license for businesses to sell beverages with an alcohol concentration above 2.5%
- Restricting the sale of alcoholic beverages in grocery stores to drinks that have an alcohol concentration below 4.7%
- Limited hours in which stores can sell alcoholic beverages (Between 8 AM and 8 PM on weekdays, between 8 AM and 6 PM on Saturdays, and no availability to purchase on Sundays)
- Restricting the sale of drinks with an alcohol concentration above 4.7% to a national, state-owned chain of stores known as Vinmonopolet
What is the legal drinking age in Norway?
In Norway, the legal drinking age varies depending on the alcohol percentage of the drink.
For beverages such as beer and wine which have a lower alcohol percentage (below 22%), the legal drinking age is 18 years old.
However, for alcoholic drinks which have a higher alcohol percentage (above 22%), such as booze and spirits, the permitted drinking age is 20 years old.
Can you drink in public in Norway?
If you are visiting Norway for the first time, it is important to be aware that drinking in public locations is illegal. Places that are considered public include, but are not limited to:
- Streets
- City parks
- Public squares
- Hotel or apartment balconies
If you choose not to comply, you may face a fine of 2500 NOK, which equates to about 280 USD or 250 EUR.
If you accept the fine, the process is straightforward. The details of the fine will be mailed to you, and you can complete the payment through a simple bank transfer.
In the event that you are not financially able to cover the fine, you may contact the Norwegian State Collection for assistance.
How the law is enforced in practice
Although public drinking is illegal, you may still encounter people in Norway enjoying a glass of wine in public areas when the weather permits. This is because public drinking is not an offense that the police often choose to penalize.
In fact, according to a Norwegian news article, in Norway’s third-largest city of Trondheim, only one individual was cited for public drinking between the years of 2017 and 2021.
According to the same article, the Trondheim police explained that police officers typically consider several factors when determining whether to fine someone for public drinking. Some of these factors include:
- The discretion with which someone is drinking. For example, police are not as likely to intervene if someone is quietly enjoying a glass of wine in a small group.
- The circumstances where the drinking is taking place. If the offender is part of a large crowd or in an area with a lot of visibility, the police officers are more likely to request that the individual stop drinking.
- The individual’s compliance when asked to put away the alcohol (An individual who responds to the police officer’s request is less likely to be fined than someone who does not).
Drinking and driving in Norway (What is the legal limit?)
Like many countries, Norway has a low tolerance for drinking and driving. The country’s legal limit of blood alcohol content (BAC) for a driver is 0.02%.
To illustrate the amount of alcohol required to reach that BAC level, let’s look at an example:
Consider a man who weighs 90 kg (200 pounds) with average metabolism. The alcohol required for him to reach 0.02% BAC is about one drink.
This means for someone with a smaller size or slower metabolism, consuming even less could exceed the permitted BAC.
Unlike public drinking, police officers in Norway take drinking and driving very seriously. If you break the law, you may face serious consequences, including losing your license and being charged with hefty fines.
Is booze illegal in Norway?
In short, booze is not illegal in Norway. However, there are regulations in place that make it more difficult to purchase than in many other countries. For example:
- The only locations permitted to sell booze are the state-owned Vinmopolet (wine monopoly) stores.
- These stores only sell booze between 10 AM and 6 PM on weekdays and between 10 AM and 4 PM on Saturdays, with no option to purchase booze on Sundays.
- Outside of Vinmopolet’s store hours, booze may only be purchased in bars.
Besides these restrictions, it is important to note that advertisements promoting booze and making moonshine are also illegal.
Sources
Alcohol advertisement ban in Norway – Pubmed
A retailer with a social responsibility – Vinmonopolet
Drinking in public in Norway (here’s how the police might react) – Adresseavisen (Norwegian)
Fines and other punitive measures – Norwegian police (Norwegian)
