Last month, 17 MPs from the Independence Party, Progressive Party and the Social Democrats proposed a bill breaking the government’s monopoly on the sale of alcohol, leading to an ongoing debate in both the Althingi (Icelandic parliament) and on the streets of Iceland about the sale of alcohol in the country.
If passed, the bill would allow alcohol to be sold in supermarkets rather than exclusively in government owned stores. While the bill appeals to many, others are passionately opposed to the idea.
A study of alcohol sales in New Zealand, a country which sells alcohol in the supermarket, found that nine out of 21 outlets in Christchurch and the Selwyn District were selling alcohol to minors, confirming fears that licensing supermarkets may lead to an increase in underage drinking. In May last year in the UK, an underage undercover reporter was able to buy liquor at seven large supermarkets.
On the other hand, a simple comparison of the price of alcohol in Iceland compared to the rest of Europe reveals that on average, the price in Iceland is 126 per cent higher than in most of Europe. Only Norway charges more.
For this very reason, many are against the new bill, fearing that lowered prices for alcohol will lead to increased consumption. Ágúst Ólafur Ágústsson, Vice-chairman of the Social Democrats, disagrees.
“History tells us that it is not possible to control the public’s alcohol consumption with pricing set by the state and high alcohol prices in Iceland have not resulted in Icelanders drinking more sensibly,” he said.
There are currently 47 government-owned ‘Vinbud’ alcohol stores operating in Iceland. All outlets are closed by 19:00 on Friday and at 18:00 on Saturday. No alcohol is for sale in Iceland on Sunday.
The proposed bill was first read in mid-October and must be read twice more before it can become a law. Meanwhile, the debate on the streets of Iceland continues.