jeffinRTP t1_ir0rx31 wrote on October 4, 2022 at 2:40 PM

Any idea why beer was illegal for so long? Did that also apply to other alcohol or just beer?

Rexel450 t1_ir19qw2 wrote on October 4, 2022 at 4:35 PM

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31622038

jeffinRTP t1_ir1h81h wrote on October 4, 2022 at 5:22 PM

Thanks

WhenTardigradesFly t1_ir25fys wrote on October 4, 2022 at 7:53 PM

interesting contrast to russia, where beer wasn't even classified as alcohol until 2011

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-14232970

OpenStraightElephant t1_ir58v53 wrote on October 5, 2022 at 1:07 PM

That's a misconception. Beer and stuff like cider was just a separate tax group from all other alcohol. Regulations like public and underage drinking still applied.

ShalmaneserIII t1_ir2zfzg wrote on October 4, 2022 at 11:13 PM

The things people will turn into virtues to signal.

"Wine is okay! Beer is unpatriotic!"

AirbreathingDragon t1_ir543xm wrote on October 5, 2022 at 12:27 PM

Wine got a pass because Spain, the biggest purchaser of our fish at the time, threatened to stop trading with us if we banned wine since most of it was imported from there.

Rexel450 t1_ir19k1c wrote on October 4, 2022 at 4:34 PM

Prohibition in Iceland which went into effect in 1915 and lasted until st of March 1989

hastur777 t1_ir34ij8 wrote on October 4, 2022 at 11:51 PM

I had a few decent beers in Iceland - some good breweries there.

aonisis t1_ir3yk4r wrote on October 5, 2022 at 3:56 AM

I lived in Iceland in 1984-85. I was told they thought if beer was legal people would drink too much. Little did they know...

During this time bars would serve beer with a side spigot that would inject some alcohol (I think Brenevin) into it.

In those days, if you knew the right people you could always get bottled (canned) European beer.

GDH907 t1_ir1cxkb wrote on October 4, 2022 at 4:55 PM

Nice, my birthday is March 1st! Booking tickets to Iceland :)

Tentapuss t1_ir3crcw wrote on October 5, 2022 at 12:55 AM

70 years of sobriety for the descendents of vikings.

bolanrox t1_ir7961w wrote on October 5, 2022 at 9:03 PM

yet their national liquor tastes like betty ford's nail polish remover

Infamous_Instance_12 t1_ir8o3z6 wrote on October 6, 2022 at 3:51 AM

Banning alcohol just flat never works. Humans gonna human.

TIL Beer used to be banned in Iceland until 1989. March 1st is today celebrated as Beer Day in Iceland, to commemorate the day this prohibition was lifted.

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