What Did Iceland Prohibit From 1915 to 1989

Having a beer overlooking Reykjavik at night is lovely.

1st of March is the Icelandic Beer Day. Beer was banned in Republic of iceland between 1915 and until 1989! But why? Acquire all nearly Iceland's history with beer.


Photograph higher up by Eeshan Garg. No edits made.


  • Read about Reykjavík's Nightlife
  • Read upwardly on Happy Hour and observe The Cheapest Beers in Reykjavík
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  • Join this brilliant and delicious Funky Reykjavik Nutrient & Beer Walk

If you've always been to Iceland chances are you've experienced some of Reykjavík's infamous nightlife. Icelanders are known for being rather serenity, that is until they've had a drink or five. Then suddenly they're all embracing and their loud, inner Vikings come to life.

Beer is the drink of choice for about Icelanders, so it might come every bit a surprise to some to hear that beer was actually illegal in Iceland, all the manner up to the year 1989! So hither a little light will be cast on what this ban was all near.

Alcohol Prohibition in Iceland

Not all alcohol was banned in Iceland's prohibition. Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Eatables, by cogdogblog. No edits made.

Prohibition went into consequence in Iceland in 1915 and initially banned all alcohol - and was voted for past the Icelandic population. Shortly later, Spain threatened to stop importing salted cod from Iceland (Iceland'due south biggest export), unless Iceland imported Spanish wines.

The ban on reddish and rosé Castilian and Portuguese wines was lifted in 1921. Doctors also described strong booze for all sorts of illnesses, people brewed their own alcohol, and alcohol was smuggled into the land. But beer kept beingness left out.

From 1935 until 1989 the prohibition just practical to "strong" beer (more than ii,25%). That'southward mainly considering beer was associated with Denmark and Iceland was fighting to gain independence from Denmark (Iceland got full independence in 1944) - so it wasn't seen as a particularly patriotic drink.

A time when beer was banned in Iceland. Photo from Wikimedia, Artistic Commons, by Arnaldur Grétarsson & family. No edits made.

People still wanted to potable this golden liquid, and some people drank what is called 'bjórlíki' or 'Beer Likeness'. This normally consisted of a weak pilsner (with less than two,25% alcohol in it), mixed with a bit of vodka, whiskey and some wine, bringing the alcohol level up to 5%. Not exactly the aforementioned gustatory modality as of beer, and people notwithstanding craved the original.

'Bjórlíki' was sold in 1 of Reykjavík's get-go pubs, Gaukur á Stöng (Gaukurinn, which all the same exists) and was quite controversial, leading to also being banned in 1985.

When the beer ban was eventually lifted on the 1st of March in 1989 and people could legally buy beer, people flocked the streets to drink this previously unattainable potable.

The BBC wrote a long article about the Icelandic Beer Solar day, going into more than specific details.

Where is Beer Sold Today in Iceland?

Many beers are on offer in Iceland. Photo from Locally Hosted Reykjavik Beer & Food Tour at the Old Harbor. No edits made.

In Iceland y'all will need to head to a bar or to a liquor shop called 'Vínbúðin' that'due south run by ÁTVR (Áfengis- og tóbaksverslun ríkisins - The Governmental Booze and Tobacco Store), which is often also just called 'Ríkið' or 'The Government' to buy beer.

You lot are not able to buy beer in supermarkets. If you think you found some cheap beer in the supermarket, and so I detest to break information technology to you but that's not beer. That would be the aforementioned weak pilsner with less than two,25% alcohol. If the plan is to feel tipsy, y'all might almost just as well be drinking water.

Water is the main ingredient in beer!

Regularly, the debate about whether beer and vino should exist sold in supermarkets is brought upwardly in parliament, simply so far the ruling has always been confronting it.

Beer civilization in Iceland has made a gigantic leap in the terminal few years, with a number of Icelandic brands and craft beer condign available. Perhaps the most well-known Icelandic beer is Einstök, which is currently sold internationally in a number of countries.

Drinking in Reykjavik is a great way to spend the evening! Photo from Locally Hosted Reykjavik Beer & Food Bout at the Old Harbor

Other Icelandic beers you could bank check out are Kaldi, Bríó, Thule, Boli, Gull, Víking, special Christmas beers or summer beers and a variety of arts and crafts beers such as Úlfur, Bjartur or Surtur.

Pubs focusing on craft beers accept also cropped up in downtown Reykjavík, and gone are the days of simply having ane or two options of beer on tap in Icelandic bars.


  • Run across the Best Bars for Arts and crafts Beer in Reykjavík here

Beer Day Celebrations

Beer day is a celebratory day in Iceland. Photo from Guided two.5 Hour Reykjavik Beer & Schnapps Walking Bout

Present, many people still celebrate the 1st of March as Beer Day, although there are no big organised events or parties. A yearly Beer Festival is held at Kex Hostel in February, but information technology doesn't overlap with Beer Day.


  • Read nigh Festivals and Events in Republic of iceland here

On the 1st of March it's more than likely that people just caput to the nearest pub with a few friends for a glass or two (or ten). The team at Guide to Iceland is no exception, and we celebrate this day every year with a few drinks in the role.

The bars in downtown Reykjavík serve good beer. Photograph from Locally Hosted Reykjavik Beer & Food Tour at the Old Harbor

Often bars will have beer promotions on this solar day, with exceptionally low prices. If you enjoy drinking beer, nosotros suggest yous bring together the locals and caput to the nearest bar. Skál!

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Source: https://guidetoiceland.is/history-culture/beer-day-in-iceland

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