What was banned in Iceland until 1989?

A century ago, Iceland banned all alcoholic drinks. Within a decade, red wine had been legalised, followed by spirits in the 1930s. But full-strength beer remained off-limits until 1 March 1989.

What was banned in Iceland between 1915 and 1989?

Like many countries Iceland went through a period of prohibition. In 1915 a majority of 60% voted for a total ban on wine, beer and spirits. The ban on wine was lifted in 1922 and on spirits in 1935 but for some reason beer was banned in Iceland until 1989!

What did Iceland ban?

But why on earth was beer banned in Iceland in the first place? Iceland, like many countries, went through a period of prohibition. In 1915 a total ban on wine, beer and spirits was voted by a majority of 60%. Seven years later the ban on wine was lifted and in 1935 the ban on spirits was lifted.

What was banned in Iceland from 1915?

Prohibition went into effect in Iceland in 1915 and initially banned all alcohol - and was voted for by the Icelandic population. Shortly after, Spain threatened to stop importing salted cod from Iceland (Iceland's biggest export), unless Iceland imported Spanish wines.

What is the weirdest law in Iceland?

A Super Quick History of Iceland

Why are dogs illegal in Iceland?

In 1924, Reykjavik banned locals from having dogs as pets in an attempt to control the spread of a disease. The ban was enforced to minimise the risk of locals being affected by the outbreak of echinococcosis, a type of tapeworm spreading on the island.

Are dogs still banned in Iceland?

Pooches aren't illegal in Reykjavik anymore (provided owners get a permit and abide by strict residency, microchipping, vaccination, worming, and leash laws), but the effect of dog-free decades persists to this day.

What was beer banned in Iceland?

Prohibition in Iceland went into effect in 1915 and lasted, to some extent, until 1 March 1989 (since celebrated as "Beer Day"). The ban had originally prohibited all alcohol, but from 1922 legalized wine and in 1935 legalized all alcoholic beverages except beer with more than 2.25% alcohol content.

Why did Iceland ban McDonald's?

Iceland was home to 3 or 4 (sources differ) McDonald's restaurants until the country's financial crisis in 2009. With the collapse of the country's currency, the cost of importing the restaurants' required food products reportedly doubled, forcing all locations to shut down.

What country banned beer until 1989?

The drink was outlawed in Iceland for 74 years, while all other booze was completely legal. The alcoholic anomaly finally ended on March 1, 1989. The beer ban was a leftover from the country's prohibition era, which started in 1915 when the population voted in a referendum to outlaw all alcoholic drinks.

What is the legal drinking age in Iceland?

The legal drinking age in Iceland is 20. Grocery stores only have low-alcohol beer; all other alcohol is sold in state-controlled stores called Vínbúð, with limited opening hours. If you're arriving by plane and want to have some stronger alcohol on you, we advise to get some at the airport.

What are the rules in Iceland?

Entry rules for Iceland

All visitors are welcome, regardless of vaccination status, with no requirement to pre-register before visiting. There is no longer a requirement for a PCR test to board aircraft, and no testing or quarantine upon arrival.

Do and don'ts in Iceland?

Is smoking legal in Iceland?

Smoking cigarettes is legal in Iceland. However, there are several laws concerning where people can smoke cigarettes which came into effect in June of 2007. Like many countries, in Iceland it is no longer legal to smoke inside any public buildings.

Can you drink alcohol in Iceland?

You can't just walk into the supermarket and pick up a bottle of wine as you can in most countries. Except for low-alcohol beer, you have to go to special shops called Vinbudin to buy alcohol. The state runs these liquor stores, and they are typically open from 11 am to 6 pm.

Why are there no trees in Iceland?

The country lost most of its trees more than a thousand years ago, when Viking settlers took their axes to the forests that covered one-quarter of the countryside. Now Icelanders would like to get some of those forests back, to improve and stabilize the country's harsh soils, help agriculture and fight climate change.

What is Black Death in Iceland?

Brennivin, better known as “Black Death”, is the Icelandic's distinctive spirit. It was created from the “aquavits” introduced by Danish merchants in Iceland in the 17th Century. The exact translation for Brennivin is “Burnt Wine”. This refers to how the “aquavit” is produced: distilled over an opened flame.

Does Iceland have KFC?

While Iceland does not sell official KFC but is doing a fried chicken bundle capable of feeding four people for £5. It includes a choice of chicken thighs, wings or strips as a main, a side including wedges, onion rings and corn, and a drink.

Why is there no Starbucks in Iceland?

There's no Starbucks in Iceland

It's a side effect of being a small country, we don't want other bigger countries to take over. So we tend to prefer Icelandic shops, and we already have two pretty big café chains, Kaffitár and Te og Kaffi, plus a lot of local or smaller cafés.

Was all alcohol banned in Iceland?

A century ago, Iceland banned all alcoholic drinks. Within a decade, red wine had been legalised, followed by spirits in the 1930s. But full-strength beer remained off-limits until 1 March 1989.

What is taboo in Iceland?

When it comes to Icelandic jokes, nothing is too dark; there are no taboos in Iceland.

What is Iceland's national drink?

Brennivín is unquestionably the national drink of Iceland. It is a purely Icelandic creation using potato mash and herbs native to this Nordic island nation to create an unsweetened schnapps.

Does Iceland smell like a fart?

Everything smells like farts

But it's undeniable that when you run a tap in Iceland, out flows a stench like rotting eggs mixed with hangover farts.

Does Iceland have homeless?

Despite having one of the world's most generous welfare systems, Iceland is reportedly struggling with a growing homelessness problem. According to one study, the number of homeless people living in Reykjavik—Iceland's capital—nearly doubled between 2012 and 2017 from 179 to 349, or about three out of every thousand.

Can you wear shorts in Iceland?

Anything else is up to you! If you travel to Iceland in summer, you might find a purpose for all kinds of clothes. If you're lucky enough to be visiting during a heatwave, you might wear shorts to go on day trips or walks. A light jacket may be enough as well.