Reykjavík Grapevine - 07.03.2008, Page 17

For years, the most popular television show in
Iceland has been a quiz show between the sec-
ondary schools in the country, called Gettu Betur
(Guess Again). It has been around for twenty-one
years. Although not as old, the pub-quiz Drekktu
Betur (Drink Again), is an established institution
in the local cultural life. The first quiz took place
4 years ago and April 4 will mark the 250th time it
has been held.
It makes sense. After all, Icelanders love
quiz games and Icelanders love to drink. Obvi-
ously, finding a way to combine these two things
is merely an exercise in time-saving multi-tasking.
In the nearest toy-store, for example, you can buy
a board game, which, if played correctly, will re-
sult in the total drunken stupor of all participating
players. If you feel inclined to watch this happen,
or perhaps you don’t have any friends to play
board-games with, feel free to join the crowd that
gathers on the upper floor of Grand Rokk every
Friday night at 18:00 for roughly an hour of an-
swering questions and drinking beer.
The game follows a relatively standard
pub-quiz format. The rules are simple: there is a
quizmaster armed with 30 questions, participants
form teams of two and try their best to outsmart
the admittedly smart-ass questions. Answers are
written down on paper and, in the end, teams
exchange their slips of paper as the answers are
reviewed. The team with the highest number of
correct answers wins a case of beer. As a bonus,
if you get question number 18 correct you get a
free beer from the bar. If no team has at least 15
correct answers, the prize is moved to the follow-
ing week and if two teams are tied then a bonus
round is played with 5 additional questions.
Each week there is a new quizmaster, so ev-
ery week the questions span a wide area of exper-
tise. The quizmaster has free reign over the ques-
tions’ subject-matter. For example, a recent quiz
was composed entirely of questions about Icelan-
dic crime novels. The winning team won with 23
correct answers. The questions are mostly about
general knowledge and popular culture, and re-
cent news events are popular too.
Grand Rokk has a somewhat rowdy image in
the pub world. One contributor to this magazine
has publicly stated on its pages that he is afraid
of stepping into the bar, fearing its regulars. I can
safely testify that his fears are unfounded; the Fri-
day quiz punters are an easy-going, quiet bunch,
more interested in the prize than pounding other
patrons.
After the quiz, many of the contestants gather
outside to smoke, drink beer and discuss the ques-
tions. One participant, Kolbeinn Ó. Proppé, told
me that he attended fairly regularly, sometimes as
a competitor and sometimes as the quizmaster. “I
come for the company, the competition and for a
good way to relax after the working week.” When
asked if he wins a lot he does not comment, but
states with a stern face that it isn’t really about win-
ning, but about having fun and the true spirit of
sportsmanship.
I myself have been attending fairly regularly
for the past year, never winning but sometimes
coming close. I have made friends with people I
would otherwise never have met and each time
has been fun and enjoyable. As an added bonus I
am now a lot more knowledgeable about various
subjects, ranging from the adventures of Tintin to
the Russian revolution.
The Drink Again! quiz is an excellent way
to meet the locals in a non-scripted, non-touristy
environment. No one is trying to sell you anything
(although the bar likes it when you buy beer), en-
try is free, the people are friendly, the competition
is fun and there is a nice prize for the winners. Se-
riously, who couldn’t use a case of beer?
Although the questions (and the answers!) are in
Icelandic, the event is highly recommended for
foreigners and locals alike. I have never bumped
into a foreigner at these events, but hopefully that
will change soon. It would be easy enough to per-
form the whole thing in English, should there be
enough interest.
You can find out who the next quizmaster is a week
in advance at drekktubetur.blogspot.com
Drink Again!
Icelanders love quiz
games and Icelanders
love to drink. Obviously,
finding a way to combine
these two things is merely
an exercise in time-saving
multi-tasking.
Disapointment is a part of the game.
Photo by GAS
Article | Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 03 2008 | 17
EXPECT
HANG
OVERS...
THE BIGGEST CLUB IN
DOWNTOWN REYKJAVIK.
LIVE MUSIC EVERY WEEKEND.
WWW.NASA.IS
ДЕСЯТЬ ПОЛЕЗНЫХ
ЖИЗНЕННЫХ СОВЕТОВ
1. Настраивайся всегда на положительные эмоции – это
облегчает жизнь
2. Береги то, что тебе дорого
3. Век живи – век учись
4. Извлекай уроки из своих ошибок
5. Ежедневно занимайся физическими упражнениями:
это повышает настроение
6. Не усложняй свою жизнь без надобности
7. Старайся понять и поддержать тех, кто тебя окружает
8. Не сдавайся: успех в жизни – это бег на длинную
дистанцию
9. Раскрой и развивай свои способности
10. Поставь себе цель и добивайся ее осуществления