Iceland’s Prohibition began in 1915, with a total ban on all alcohol, and only ended in 1989 when beer stronger than 2.25% ABV was authorized for sale. Beer was associated with Denmark and seen as encouraging alcoholism. Icelanders drink an average of 7.1 liters of alcohol per year.
When most Americans think of Prohibition, the speakeasies and bootleggers of the 1920s come to mind. Not so in Iceland, where Prohibition is a much more recent memory. Only 31 years ago beer stronger than 2.25% ABV was authorized for sale in the small island nation. The beer ban was a lingering remnant of Iceland’s version of Prohibition, which began in 1915 with a total ban on all alcohol, thanks to an active temperance movement. However, the stringent measures soon fell apart. Red and rosé wines were authorized in 1922, due to pressure from Spain, which threatened to boycott Iceland’s main export, cod, unless its wines could be imported. In 1935, two years after the end of America’s teetotaler experiment, other alcoholic beverages and even spirits were permitted. But not full beer. One major reason was beer’s association with lager-loving Denmark, from which Iceland struggled to gain independence, finally in 1944. Beer was also seen as encouraging alcoholism, as it was cheaper than wine or spirits – though, somewhat counterintuitively, much weaker. Although some Icelanders have resorted to buying beer illegally, either creating their own home brew or even adding a spirit called brennivin to low-alcohol or non-alcohol beer, it was not until the 1970s when Icelanders began traveling more frequently in other parts of Europe (and bringing back duty-free), that pressure has mounted to end the ban. Strong beer was finally legalized on March 1, 1989, in an event commemorated as “Beer Day.”
“Must!”
Icelanders drink an average of 7.1 liters of alcohol per year, significantly less than other Europeans. The Danes average 11.4 litres, the British 11.6 liters and the Russians 15.1 litres.
Icelandic micro-brewery Stedji has made headlines on several occasions for producing beer flavored with various whale parts.
During the early years of the Prohibition period, doctors sometimes prescribed alcoholic beverages such as wine and cognac, though never beer, to treat medical ailments.
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