NORWAY | SVERRE MCSEVENY-ÅRIL 523 5. RESTAURANTS, CAFES AND SALE AND SERVING OF ALCOHOL Restaurants, cafes, and serving of food and alcoholic drinks is a highly regulated area in Norway. To open a restaurant, you need to have the necessary building permit to replan or remodel the premises for the purpose of opening a restaurant. There are detailed regulations and requirements for ventilation, fire safety, availability for persons with reduced mobility etc. This is regulated by the Norwegian Plan and Building Act10. All restaurants and cafes also need to be registered with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority11. In Norway there is also very strict regulations on the sale of alcoholic beverages. The sale of alcohol is in Norway regulated by the Act on Alcohol12 and the Serving Act13. The sale of alcoholic beverages to the public is reserved for the state-owned company Vinmonopolet AS for beverages with the alcohol level above 4,7%. Part of the mandate of the Vinmonopolet AS is to ensure that alcoholic beverages are sold responsibility in Norway, but also inspire and create inspiration for the responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages in Norway. The sale of alcohol in shops requires a sales licence from the local municipality. Sales hours are restricted to 08:00 – 18:00 (20:0014) on weekdays and with no sale of alcohol allowed on Sundays and on public holidays. Restaurants and bars that wants to serve alcoholic beverages need to apply for and obtain a specific licence from the local municipality to do so. 10 Lov om planlegging og byggesaksbehandling (plan- og bygningsloven) [Planning and Building Act]. 11 Mattilsynet [The Norwegian Food Safety Authority]. 12 Lov om omsetning av alkoholholdig drikk m.v. (alkoholloven) [Act on the sale of alcoholic beverages, etc. (Alcohol Act)]. 13 Lov om serveringsvirksomhet (serveringsloven) [Catering Act]. 14 Local Municipalities can allow for sale until 20:00 on weekdays. Normal practice many places is 20:00 on weekdays and 18:00 on Saturdays.
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