A political hangover: Norway’s 6 AM World Cup drinking proposal

19.03.2026 - After a 28-year wait, the Norwegian men's national football team has finally qualified for the World Cup. However, as fans prepare for matches hosted in the US, Mexico, and Canada, a heated debate has broken out back home. What started as a popular promise by the Labor Party (Ap) to allow alcohol serving until 6:00 AM has quickly turned into a controversial policy battle that critics are calling both "idiotic" and irresponsible.

The proposal appears to be a calculated move by Labor Party leaders, including Jonas Gahr Støre and Tonje Brenna, to connect with regular voters and match the "fun" image of the Progress Party (Frp). This push for "folkelig" (common man) appeal has already led to some awkward moments. Recently, Deputy Leader Tonje Brenna faced heavy criticism for using the vulgar term "julehore" (Christmas whore) in a radio interview to describe her love for the holidays. While she later apologized and called the remark "dumt og unødvendig" (stupid and unnecessary), many see the 6:00 AM drinking plan as another example of poor judgment.

Despite the party's excitement, the government’s own experts have issued a stark warning. A report from the Ministry of Health and Care Services (HOD) notes that the plan goes directly against the country's health goals. The ministry’s professionals warned that extending hours would lead to an "increased number of undesirable incidents in the form of damage, violence, and crime." Surprisingly, the political leadership chose to ignore these findings. In the final consultation paper, they wrote that because the World Cup is an "extraordinary event of limited duration," a temporary break from the usual rules is justified.

This decision has met fierce resistance from nearly every major health and labor organization in Norway. Actis has labeled the move as "unprincipled." General Secretary Inger Lise Hansen stated that the government is essentially throwing public health overboard just to compete with populist rivals. Meanwhile, IOGT Norway pointed to their own research showing that 61% of Norwegians believe the current drinking hours are long enough and do not support the extension.

The opposition also comes from those who will have to manage the consequences of the extra drinking hours. Fellesforbundet, the union representing bar and hotel staff, has expressed deep concern for worker safety and exhaustion. They argue that it is unfair to force service employees to work until dawn for a sporting event, especially when it puts more pressure on police and emergency rooms. Organizations like Ly, which supports families affected by addiction, have also highlighted a major "logical flaw" in the government's thinking. They point out that for a child living in a home with alcohol problems, it doesn't matter if the drinking is caused by a "special" football match or a normal night - the fear and the impact remain the same.

As the Storting (Parliament) prepares to debate the issue this spring, the pressure on the Labor Party to reconsider is growing. While the matches in North America will certainly be a celebration for football fans, critics hope the government will eventually "wise up" and realize that a few hours of extra beer is not worth the risk to public health and worker safety.