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Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas

sysselmannen.no

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Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas

#11

Post by paranoidrobot »

aequitas wrote: post #7
fouc wrote: post #2

What's interesting about this?

I find the law that requires you to carry a firearm more interesting: https://www.sysselmannen.no/en/weapon/ Being a remote town in the far north with unusual day/nighy cycles does require some strange laws to keep everyone safe and sane I guess. Also, Tom has been there ofc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFJ-ze2-SqU

> I find the law that requires you to carry a firearm more interesting

That's not quite what it says. Firearms are only a recommendation.

> Due to the polar bear threat in Svalbard, anyone travelling outside the settlements must be equipped with appropriate means of frightening and chasing off polar bears.

> The Governor of Svalbard also recommends having firearms with you.

Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas

#12

Post by jhugo »

murrayhenson wrote: post #5
fouc wrote: post #2

What's interesting about this?

Maybe that the quotas are very low, or that there are quotas at all. Mainland Norway definitely doesn't have quotas like this; rather alcohol is simply made to be quite expensive. When I read this my first thought was something like, "I bet that those who don't drink are making a bit of profit on the side by selling their allowances." However, I'm guessing that for Svalbard's dedicated drinkers ...they're finding a w…

> Mainland Norway definitely doesn't have quotas like this; rather alcohol is simply made to be quite expensive.

If you don't mind the higher price I'm sure you can still import it as long as you pay the duty. (The linked page merely says that you cannot import tax-free.) So ultimately it's the same situation as in (the rest of) Norway, but with some small allowance of cheaper tax-free alcohol. If they didn't have the quotas, people would arbitrage it.

Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas

#14

Post by jhugo »

k__ wrote: post #8
tyingq wrote: post #6

Headline fooled me. To me quota usually means "you must do this much", this appears to be a limit.

I only know this from AWS, where it means "limits".

In some contexts it's a minimum - e.g. monthly sales quota for a salesperson, or monthly ticket quota for a traffic police officer.

Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas

#16

Post by jonsen »

jhugo wrote: post #14
k__ wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I only know this from AWS, where it means "limits".

In some contexts it's a minimum - e.g. monthly sales quota for a salesperson, or monthly ticket quota for a traffic police officer.

Wiktionary:

“A prescribed number or percentage that may serve as, for example, a maximum, a minimum, or a goal.”

Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas

#17

Post by donw »

aequitas wrote: post #7
fouc wrote: post #2

What's interesting about this?

I find the law that requires you to carry a firearm more interesting: https://www.sysselmannen.no/en/weapon/ Being a remote town in the far north with unusual day/nighy cycles does require some strange laws to keep everyone safe and sane I guess. Also, Tom has been there ofc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFJ-ze2-SqU

Requiring citizens to keep arms was actually quite common up until the 1800s, with some municipalities actually purchasing firearms for residents, with the expectation that they would be paid back as was manageable.

Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas

#19

Post by donw »

k__ wrote: post #4

Sounds rather much for one person in one month.

It’s one bourbon, one scotch, and one beer per day, swapping for wine on Sundays.

More than I get through, but low for a serious boozer.

Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas

#20

Post by progre »

jhugo wrote: post #9
axlee wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you know a lot of places with monthly alcohol purchase quotas?

Well, there are not that many tax-free places. If they didn't have quotas, there would no doubt be thriving businesses buying alcohol in Svalbard and selling it in the rest of Norway.

Transport costs might put a damper on that. Also, it sounds like it would also be subjected to import restrictions, even if it's the same country.
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