– I don’t recommend people start drinking at six in the morning, says Reidar Digranes (Sp) and laughs. He is the city councilor responsible for the pub policy in Bergen. Now he is behind a historic liberalization of the pub rules in the city. From 1 July, it is only three of the 24 hours that pubs are prohibited from selling alcohol. In the past, the catering establishments were allowed to open for pouring from 08.00. This also applies to 17 May, which in recent years has ended in drunken brawls and violence in Bergen. Reidar Digranes will not celebrate the breakthrough with morning lager. Photo: Linnea Skare Oskarsen / news – We simplify and clarify the rules to make Bergen a more business-friendly and vibrant city, says Digranes. Lukewarm atmosphere – This is a really bad idea. Here the city council is out of step with its own population, says general secretary Inger Lise Hansen in Actis. She represents the umbrella organization which describes itself as the drug field’s cooperation body. A survey they commissioned from Sentio shows that the changes are contrary to what the people of Bergen themselves want. The survey revealed that 81 per cent of those questioned would not have a drink served from 6am in the morning. 56 per cent were against the extension of the drinking time to 03.00. The city council opened the summer of 2023 for the serving of alcohol at Torgallmenningen. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news The survey also shows that women are more skeptical about expansion than men, and that more older people are skeptical than younger ones. A total of 1,001 Bergen residents were asked in the period between 15 April and 21 April. Right-wing municipalities relax the liquor rules For many years, the Westland capital has had a stricter approach to the liquor rules than what the national alcohol law lays down. According to Actis, it is a consistent trend that municipalities governed by the right have switched to more liberal drinking regulations. They refer, among other things, to the capital, where the city council these days has a proposal for a change in the pub rules under consultation. The proposed changes have several similarities with what has now been adopted in Bergen, including permission to serve alcohol earlier on Sundays, public holidays and public holidays such as 1 and 17 May. They will otherwise open for earlier pouring on weekdays. Ålesund, Holmestrand, Haugesund, Moss and Sandnes are also among the municipalities that already have, or have plans to liberalize the local liquor regulations. Ålesund is among the municipalities that extend the pouring hours. Photo: Silje Steinnes Bjerknes / news – These holidays top the list of occasions where children and young people experience discomfort related to their parents’ alcohol use, says Hansen in Actis. The organization is concerned that increased availability of alcohol will lead to increased use, and that this will lead to more injuries. They refer to previous research, for example reported by news, which shows that more drinking leads to more violence and an unsafe nightlife. Actis works to prevent and limit the harm caused by the use of alcohol. Photo: Actis – the Rusfield’s cooperation body The city council advises against morning beer Reidar Digranes does not share the concern. – It is at home that you should be concerned about alcohol consumption, not in public, he believes. The city council points out that serving places in Bergen have previously been allowed to serve alcohol until half past two in the morning, and that the change will therefore not be too great. New serving rules in Bergen Extended serving time for alcoholic beverages is from 6am, with the exception of Sundays and public holidays where the serving time is from 12. For 1 May and 17 May, the pouring time is from 06. Extended serving time for alcoholic beverages at outdoor restaurants is basically until 01:00. Applications can be made for outdoor serving time equal to indoor serving time, and this must normally be granted for outdoor restaurants that are not located in residential areas. The sale and delivery of alcoholic beverages can take place until 20 on weekdays and until 18 on days before Sundays and public holidays, with the exception of the day before Ascension Day where sales can take place until 20. On Easter, Pentecost, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the sales time is until 18. Consumption of served alcohol must cease no later than half an hour after the end of the serving time. – In addition, we require employees to undergo courses for responsible alcohol serving. This is not required by the national alcohol act, so in that sense we are stricter on some of the points, he says. They must also send an application to the office for dispensing matters, before they can extend the times for dispensing. Normal pouring time will therefore still be until two o’clock. Digranes specifically mentions Bergen Airport Flesland as an example of a place where extended serving in the morning has been desirable. At Flesland, early risers can calm their nerves with a beer. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news Although he admits that the municipality does not expect very many applications for extended serving hours in the evenings, he believes that weekends will be relevant for more. On Friday, he himself will go out with his “better half” to celebrate the breakthrough. – Then I will probably enjoy a good glass of wine, he concludes. Published 19.06.2024, at 18.32 Updated 19.06.2024, at 19.50
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Bergen municipality introduces new serving rules for alcohol – news Vestland
