Reykjavík Grapevine - 07.06.2013, Qupperneq 27

Reykjavík Grapevine - 07.06.2013, Qupperneq 27
THE FRESHEST FISH ....AND IDEAS! SKÓLAVÖRÐUSTÍGUR 14 - 101 REYKJAVÍK - 571 1100 After years of study, strings of awards and having led kitchens of some of Reykjavík’s most esteemed restaurants, Gústav still sees him self as just a kid from up north, with a life- time passion for fish. 27 “Did you know that in Sweden, we had alcohol rationing from World War I until 1955, when a ration book would allow you to buy 1.82 litres of strong liquor a month,” says the Swede. “There are some places in Nor- way where it is still forbidden to buy a double vodka, but you can buy two singles and mix them together,” says the Norwegian. “That is nothing,” says the Finn. “Until recently in Finland, you could only buy a beer if you were also buy- ing food, so the same sandwich was passed around all day with every drink order. Also, you could not move your drink from one table to another. You had to ask the bartender to do it for you. Otherwise, it was no longer considered a restaurant but a bar, and those were illegal.” The Dane has nothing to con- tribute. They are far too close to the mainland. In Denmark, you can even buy strong alcohol at food stores, whereas in the other Nordic coun- tries you have to go to specially li- censed, state-run liquor stores. In many ways, the Danes are Nordic in name only. Being from Iceland, I know I hold the strongest card. I keep it until last. “Did you know that in Iceland, beer was banned until 1989, but strong liquor was allowed?” The table falls silent. “But…but why?” asks a horrified German colleague. “Well, everything was banned in 1915,” I say, “but then the Spanish refused to buy Icelandic fish un- less the Icelanders bought Spanish wines. So wines were reintroduced in 1922 and then the strong stuff, but they never got around to legalizing beer. Everyone thought that would encourage too much drinking.” “And did it?” someone asks. “People drink too much in either case, but after they switched to beer they seem to remember more of their Saturday nights.” “In Berlin, you can buy alcohol in kiosks and supermarkets at all times of day and night,” says the German. When I arrive in Berlin, I am slight- ly surprised by the fact that despite this, the city is still standing. The bus drivers don’t seem noticeably drunk, unlike in Greenland which has some of the strictest alcohol policies in the world. And unlike in Helsinki, there is no confused looking, bleary eyed man at the airport asking me what day it is. Even on weekends, and despite all the parties, people in Berlin don’t seem to get as horribly drunk as they do at home. Whatev- er it is that Nordic alcohol laws are supposed to accomplish, they don’t seem very good at it. Valur Gunnarsson has been following Icelandic politics closely for almost a decade, was Grapevine’s first editor, and works as a journalist for various Icelandic publications. The Drinking Problems Of The Scandinavians Drinks are served. We are at an annual convention of Nor- dic and German journalists in Helsinki, Finland. The usual topics are discussed: the debt crisis in Cyprus, gentrifica- tion in Stockholm and Berlin, the end of the war in Afghani- stan. Then, the conversation turns to alcohol policy and suddenly the Nordic journalists spring to life. Photos: Julia Staples

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