For a sense of scale, the Svalbard archipelago has a population of about 3,000.
Antarctica's seasonal peak is around 5,000.
Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas
111–120 of 163 posts
Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas
#112Earlier quoted context omitted.
Airports often have duty free shops just inside customs, so you technically might be able to on a return trip.
Yes, this is possible and legal in Sweden. The other way to obtain cheap alcohol is to take a cruise via the island of Åland, which is not in the EU. If you plan to visit Åland, make sure to pick a ferry that actually stops there as opposed to just symbolically tossing out a mooring rope for a few minutes to satisfy the legal requirements.
Åland is in the EU, but the EU tax rules don't apply: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_member_state_territori...
Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas
#113> Private individuals resident in Svalbard must purchase their alcohol quota in Svalbard and are not able to import tax-free alcohol from the mainland to Svalbard. I doubt local shops have particularly good assortment to choose from, do they?
About the selection in the state shops: It is better than what I could get in Indiana (US). If the local places don't stock it, they'll order it for you, and it is really, really easy. I'm gonna guess it takes longer to order to Svalbard, but it probably isn't too bad either.
Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas
#114In Kangerlussuaq (Greenland), the price of booze goes way up after 6 pm.
Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas
#115> Private individuals resident in Svalbard must purchase their alcohol quota in Svalbard and are not able to import tax-free alcohol from the mainland to Svalbard. I doubt local shops have particularly good assortment to choose from, do they?
In Sweden the monopoly shops have a really good assortment since they have no profit interest and can afford to provide shelf space for less popular beverages.
Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas
#116In Kangerlussuaq (Greenland), the price of booze goes way up after 6 pm.
Interesting... how exactly does this work? Like Happy Hours? Or do shop owners also have to pay more to distributors?
Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas
#117Earlier quoted context omitted.
Throughout Norway, pretty much all sales of alcoholic beverages over 4.7% happens through state-run liquor stores (Vinmonopolet). Their selection is pretty great, but obviously imposes limits vs. a totally open import arrangement. And if a local store doesn't have something in stock, you can order it for later pickup, much like at a library with multiple branches. I don't know how that works in Svalbard, since it's s…
Interestingly, almost all "plain" European beers have either 5% or 4,9% of alcohol (Pilsners, Lagers etc.) It seems this may also be a measure to boost local sales?
You don't know a lot about Norwegian politics on this subject if you'd even suggest that. In short it's a way for the government to limit and control the damages associated with alcohol consumption. While this would probably rub the average american the wrong way, most norwegians, including myself, approve of the system.
Other posters have given more detail but here is some reading:
Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas
#118Earlier quoted context omitted.
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…
Maybe that the quotas are very low 24 bottles of liquor, 6 bottles of fortified wines, nearly 300 cans of beer, and unlimited wine annually is low? I'd hate to be the liver of anybody drinking that much.
Annually? Everything sounds high when you say it annually!
Looking at the numbers on a smaller scale, if you don't count the unlimited wine, the monthly quota works out to be about 2.2 drinks / night - about 1.5 shouts of liquor and less than 1 light beer a night.
Thats a pretty resonable amount of alcohol to consume - just slightly higher than the 14 drinks / week maximum that many health authorities recommend.
How would you feel if the government regulated how much sugar or salt you can eat, how many hours of video games you can play, or maybe even forced you to exercise 400 hours (per year)?
Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas
#119Earlier quoted context omitted.
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…
Maybe that the quotas are very low 24 bottles of liquor, 6 bottles of fortified wines, nearly 300 cans of beer, and unlimited wine annually is low? I'd hate to be the liver of anybody drinking that much.
I believe for the Bathurst weekend (V8 Car race) in Australia, people are limited to a carton of beer or a bottle of liquor a DAY per person.... Not sure if that says more about the Svalbard limits or my countrymen.
Re: Svalbard's Alcohol Quotas
#120Earlier quoted context omitted.
Why would preventing alcoholism be bad for average iq?
Brain needs challenges and stimulation to develop; when people are taken care of, average IQ of society decreased over time. If you check the numbers there are several metrics where we regressed in the past hundreds of years, including reaction time, testosterones production, fertility etc. Good times create mediocre people and the times were better and better in the past centuries, while people got more and more med…
What’s wrong with being mediocre?