One more year to go.. « Knut Albert’s beer blog

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One more year to go..

February 16, 2008 by knutalbert

The Norwegian Royal Ministry of Health and Care Services has, after dragging its feet for some time, sent a letter to the EFTA Surveillance Authority informing them that the ban on private import of alcohol should be repealed and replaced by an alternative control system. The Norwegian Government will therefore immediately initiate work on drafting alternative control mechanisms and an amendment of the legislation on private import of alcoholic beverages.

This amendment will have to be passed in Parliament, and the system is such that it will take a year or so to get the issue through the system. With a majority government, though, this should pass without much fuzz. I expect some whimpering from the Christian Democrats, but that’s about it.

Tonight we raise our glasses of (imported) beer to the European Court and the EFTA Surveillance Authority.

Posted in European Union, Norway, beer, health | 12 Comments

12 Responses

on February 16, 2008 at 10:10 pm | Reply Ole

I guess I should keep to the language of the blog. Do we have any means of importing interesting stuff today? I think I heard that I might petition Vinmonopolet to import some stuff, but I’m not sure if that’s true. I’ve been listening to the Speaking of Beer netcast and want to try stuff like Dogfish Head and Arrogant Bastard which I guess is hard to get here in Norway. (And a Latvian beer, Baukus Alus, that I drank a bit during last summer.) Is it possible to get them here? Maybe Lorry’s got some?
on February 17, 2008 at 5:30 pm | Reply knutalbert

You can’t get them here. The import range is growing very slowly, and there are very few American craft beers to be found. Ask at Beer Palace, it is about time they had a broader selection.
on February 17, 2008 at 10:49 pm | Reply The Beer Nut

Great news, though the “alternative methods” gives me pause. Any idea what they might be planning?
on February 18, 2008 at 6:03 pm | Reply Ole

What kind of prices on their beer does Beer Palace have? It’s in an area not known for their low prices…
on February 18, 2008 at 7:19 pm | Reply The Beer Nut

You mean Norway?

I recall paying 90 to 100 kroner a bottle for HaandBryggeriet stuff in The Beer Palace.
on February 19, 2008 at 9:09 am | Reply Ole

Ah, that’s a lot. I should to go to the Beer Palace one day, but until then I’ll keep to the 38-50 kr a bottle for Nøgne Ø at the local student pub. Cheaper than Vinmonopolet, that’s a good thing.
on February 19, 2008 at 9:52 am | Reply knutalbert

Where is that student pub, if I may ask?
on February 19, 2008 at 1:31 pm | Reply The Beer Nut

Dust off your Che Guevera t-shirt, Knut: you’re going undercover.
on February 19, 2008 at 6:47 pm | Reply knutalbert

It’s probably too tight!
on February 20, 2008 at 10:32 am | Reply Ole

Realistforeningen on Blindern. Called RF Kjelleren in Vilhelm Bjerknes hus. Wit, Havrestout, Brown Ale and Bitter I think for 38 kr, Porter and Saison for 50 kr. In addition they got some imported beers. Open on Fridays from 1804 till 0200 or something.

http://www.gulesider.no/kart/?ps=2&companies=&imgt=HYBRID&n=59.9410296841351&s=59.9384172826701&e=10.7269985393351&w=10.7196517650829&markX=335&markY=168&tool=zoom&scrollX=0&scrollY=0
on February 22, 2008 at 9:49 pm | Reply Ole

So I’ll guess I’ll see a Che Guevera t-shirt wearing guy with a couple of Nøgne Ø beers in his hands one of the coming fridays down at RF Kjellern?
on February 25, 2008 at 4:15 pm | Reply knutalbert

Not too likely, but I’ll keep it in mind. My family seem to want me around on Fridays.