After the municipal elections in October, Håvard Handeland became Norway’s youngest mayor. The 19-year-old holds the top seat in Sauda municipality in Rogaland. But from Monday, the young mayor will no longer have the opportunity to enjoy a pint out on the town. Because the only outdoor center in the village has raised the age limit from 18 to 20 years. – It is not the end of the world for me, says Håvard Handeland. – Then there will be beer and case documents in the living room or the basement, the mayor continues with a twinkle in his eye. The case was first mentioned by Ryfylke. VG has also mentioned the case. Few social meeting places – I understand the assessment and have respect for what they do. But I still think it is unfair that everyone is now shut out, when the problem only affects a few, emphasizes Handeland. Handeland says that through the hotel owner he has heard about individual episodes where young people have behaved badly. Mayor Håvard Handeland will be 20 in not too long. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news – But it’s common for most pubs that it’s a bit of a mess, he says. Sauda has just under 5,000 inhabitants. When the pub raises the age limit, the fitness center and a sports hall will be the only offer left for those under 20. – But that won’t work on a Saturday night. One is closed, and the other is dark. Now everything is becoming more disorganized. It increases the risk of other things, says Handeland. Does not criticize, but raises issues Like many other district municipalities, Sauda struggles to retain young people. – Sauda is a small place, and we know that social meeting places are important. The mayor emphasizes that he does not want to criticize the decision of Hotell Kløver, which runs the pub in Sauda, but wants to problematise it. It is the sum of the positive and negative associations with the home place that determines whether people return home, the mayor believes. – When you lose a social offer, you lose positive associations with your home. A few who destroy Hotel director Jan Normann Nordbø says that the raising of the age limit is mainly about drinking and bad behaviour. He emphasizes that they do not want to do that, but that the young people behave worse now than before. – It has been a bit of nonsense with them, says Nordmann Nordbø. – There are a few who cause havoc, he insists. Normann Nordbø says that they must raise the age limit in order to have sufficient control over the alcohol hall and the behavior of the visitors. Published 10.07.2024, at 13.05
ttn-69
The mayor of Sauda (19) is no longer allowed into the pub – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
