The Norwegian State's Monopoly of Wines and Liquors

Vinmonopolet

In Norway, all beers stronger than 4.75 volume percent are sold at Vinmonopolet, the State's monopoly of wines and liquors, and, as the name indicates, all wines and liquors. There are 87 [1980] stores distributed around the country, not enough to many people's taste. In many smaller cities, there are none, and people need to travel far to get their wine.

In some (smaller) cities, there is even beer monopoly, i.e. beer is only sold in certain shops, not always in their customers' vicinity either.

Vinmonopolet was created in 1922 as a shareholders' company with the sole right to import and sell liquor and wines in Norway. The yearly stock in 1980 was 2.3 million liters of wine (0.61 mill. gallons) and 7.3 million liters of liquor (1.93 mill. gallons). The State's share of the revenu was 2.4 billion kroner the same year.