This temporary ban announced on March 23, 2021 prohibits alcohol sales in on-trade premises such as restaurants, pubs and bars.
Other new COVID-19 measures in Norway include:
- Closure of amusement parks and swimming pools;
- Discontinuation of indoor sports, except children’s and elite activities;
- Ten-day quarantine after unnecessary trips; and
- Advice to not invite over two guests at home.
The Norwegian government has already previously implemented an alcohol sales ban as a measure to contain COVID-19. This ban was lifted on January 21, 2021, as a consequence of alcohol industry pressure. However, capital city Oslo retained their temporary alcohol sales ban due to a high number of infections.
As reported by Movendi International, many countries in the European region implemented time-based alcohol sales bans and improved other alcohol availability rules to contain the spread of the coronavirus, especially during the second wave of COVID-19. Temporary sales bans follow World Health Organization advice early on during the pandemic to reduce alcohol availability during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Alcohol policy solutions play an important role in protecting citizen’s health. A ground breaking new report illustrates the lethal interaction between alcohol industry products and practices with the coronavirus pandemic.
- Alcohol products increases health and societal problems arising from the pandemic. For example, alcohol weakens the immune system and makes people more susceptible to infections. And alcohol-centric social contexts have led to COVID-19 super spreaders.
- Alcohol products increase the burden on healthcare and emergency services which are already stretched due to the pandemic.
- The alcohol industry exploits the pandemic to change alcohol laws to their benefit such as through weakening delivery and take away laws.