Alcohol and smoking
Where to buy alcohol, what you can bring into Norway and which drink-drive limit applies
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Alcohol and smoking
A cold beer by the tent after a day’s driving: that’s perfectly doable up north. You just need to know where to buy it. In Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland stronger drinks are only sold in a state-run shop, which has its own opening hours. The drink-drive limit is often stricter than at home, too.
Researched by Arjan from Zuidlaren, so you don’t have to · Sources: Vinmonopolet, Helsedirektoratet, Systembolaget · updated 24 October 2026 · About this page
- Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland have a state-run shop
- Norway and Sweden: limit 0.2‰
- Norway: fixed import allowance per person
By country
🛒 Where do you buy alcohol?
| Country | In the supermarket | Stronger: only at | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | Up to 4.7% | Vinmonopolet | 18, from 22%: 20 |
| Sweden | Folköl up to 3.5% | Systembolaget | Folköl 18, Systembolaget 20 |
| Finland | Fermented drinks up to 8%, others up to 5.5% | Alko | 18, from 22%: 20 |
| Denmark | Everything (no state-run shop) | – | 1.2–6%: 16, over 6%: 18 |
| Iceland | – | Vínbúðin | 20 |
Norway: over 4.7% only at Vinmonopolet. (source: Vinmonopolet) Sweden: folköl (2.25–3.5%) in shops that also sell food, anything stronger only at Systembolaget. (source: Systembolaget, Systembolaget) Finland: since 10 June 2024 shops may sell fermented drinks up to 8%. (source: Finnish government, Alko) Denmark: new age limits since 1 April 2025. (source: Sikkerhedsstyrelsen) Iceland: sales only to people aged 20 or over. (source: Alþingi)
Norway
🕗 Buying beer in Norway: mind the time
| Supermarket (up to 4.7%) | Monday to Friday until 8 pm, Saturday until 6 pm. (source: Helsedirektoratet) |
|---|---|
| Sundays and public holidays | No alcohol sales in supermarkets. (source: Vinmonopolet) |
| Municipality | A municipality may set earlier closing times. (source: Helsedirektoratet) |
| Vinmonopolet | Usually Monday to Friday 10 am–6 pm and Saturday 10 am–4 pm. Check the website for your branch. (source: Vinmonopolet) |
So on Saturday after 6 pm or on Sunday you can’t buy beer in a Norwegian supermarket. Plan your weekend shopping ahead. More on shopping: costs and groceries.
Norway
🧳 What can you bring into Norway?
Norway has an allowance per person. You choose one of these combinations: (source: Tolletaten)
- 1 litre of spirits, 1.5 litres of wine and 2 litres of beer
- 3 litres of wine and 2 litres of beer
- 5 litres of beer
For tobacco the limit is 100 cigarettes or 125 grams of other tobacco, plus 100 papers or tubes. You must be 18 for beer, wine and tobacco, and 20 for spirits over 22%. If you bring more, declare it at customs. (source: Tolletaten) Taking the ferry to Norway? See ferry routes.
On the road
🚗 Drink-drive limit by country
| Country | Limit |
|---|---|
| Norway | 0,2‰ |
| Sweden | 0,2‰ |
| Finland | 0,5‰ |
| Denmark | 0.5‰ (new drivers 0.2‰) |
| Iceland | 0.2‰ counts as unfit to drive, penalties above 0.5‰ |
Sources: ETSC for Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. (source: ETSC) Iceland: Traffic Act 77/2019, since 1 January 2020. (source: Stjórnarráðið) The safest rule is simple: whoever drives doesn’t drink. More rules of the road: traffic rules.
Sweden
🚭 Smoking: where it’s not allowed in Sweden
In Sweden, since 1 July 2019 you may not smoke on outdoor terraces, at public playgrounds or at public transport stops and platforms. This also applies to e-cigarettes. (source: Folkhälsomyndigheten)
Campsites also have their own house rules. Ask at reception where smoking is allowed. In dry weather, mind the fire risk too: see cooking and campfires.
Quick to sort
✅ Sorted before you leave
Handy to sort out or look at straight away:
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy beer on a Sunday in Norway?
Not in the supermarket: no alcohol is sold there on Sundays and public holidays. On Saturdays you can until 6 pm (Vinmonopolet, Helsedirektoratet).
How old do you have to be for Systembolaget?
20. Folköl up to 3.5% in the supermarket is allowed from 18 (Systembolaget).
How much wine can I bring into Norway?
For example 3 litres of wine and 2 litres of beer per person, or 1.5 litres of wine with 1 litre of spirits and 2 litres of beer (Tolletaten).
What is the drink-drive limit in Norway and Sweden?
0.2‰ in both countries (ETSC).
Accountability
📚 Sources
Every number and every rule on this page comes from a source. Here they all are in one place, checked on 24 October 2026. We only mention prices if the provider publishes them itself; otherwise we refer you to the official website.
View 12 sources
- vinmonopolet.no: Vinmonopolet: buying alcohol in Norway
- helsedirektoratet.no: Helsedirektoratet: sales hours up to 4.7%
- systembolaget.se: Systembolaget: lättöl, folköl and starköl
- omsystembolaget.se: Systembolaget: age limit 20
- alko.fi: Alko: who can buy
- valtioneuvosto.fi: Finnish government: up to 8% in shops from 10 June 2024
- sik.dk: Sikkerhedsstyrelsen: alcohol age limits from 1 April 2025
- althingi.is: Alþingi: Áfengislög 75/1998
- toll.no: Tolletaten: alcohol and tobacco allowance
- etsc.eu: ETSC: drink-driving limits in Europe
- stjornarrad.is: Stjórnarráðið: new Icelandic Traffic Act (0.2‰)
- folkhalsomyndigheten.se: Folkhälsomyndigheten: smoke-free outdoor areas
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