Labour Party accused of horse-trading on alcohol policy

Hanne Cecilie Widnes

07.08.2025 - Norway has long received international recognition for its alcohol policy. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the alcohol monopoly, price regulation, and advertising bans are proven effective measures in international public health research.

Now, the alcohol policy organization IOGT is criticizing the Labour Party for a kind of political horse-trading that puts key elements of the country's alcohol policy at risk.

Disappointing shift

"We are disappointed by the governing party’s new lack of clarity," says Secretary General Hanne Cecilie Widnes.

She notes that this disappointment is tied to statements made by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in a recent interview with NTB.

There, he opens up to both a “maybe” and a “yes” to loosening restrictions in important parts of an alcohol policy that has served the country and its people well for decades.

“These new signals are about showing a more liberal attitude in alcohol policy. We believe it is about election strategy and an attempt to attract more voters,” says Widnes.

“It is not enough to say we should 'try to prevent drunkenness in parks' when we know that both heavy drinkers and moderate drinkers affect the total level of alcohol-related harm in society.”

Beer in the park

Alcohol policy is about community and social responsibility, focusing on total consumption, health effects, prevention, and safety for both children and adults.

Several parties have contributed to this alcohol policy over many years. That is why, in 2025, we can celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the alcohol advertising ban.

Now, the Labour Party has put this policy at risk with a party congress decision that opens up for alcohol consumption in parks and other public places, provided that the municipal councils approve it.

In the NTB interview, the party leader and Prime Minister describes this as “a nice freedom.” He also leaves the door open for longer alcohol sales hours and to “modernize the ban on alcohol advertising.”

“We believe these ‘freedoms’ come at the expense of others’ safety,” says Hanne Cecilie Widnes from IOGT.

“The Norwegian Institute of Public Health estimates that 90,000 children and young people in Norway are affected by adults with alcohol problems. We believe these children and young people need and deserve a restrictive, effective, and caring alcohol policy, where safety and social concerns matter more than market interests and a misguided notion of freedom,” Widnes explains.

Out of step with the people

In a survey by Verian for IOGT, 55 percent of the 1,000 respondents support the current law, which does not allow alcohol use in parks.

As many as 63 percent of respondents aged 18–29 say they limit their drinking in parks because of today’s ban. The law therefore has a significant preventive effect, especially among 18–29-year-olds.

In the IOGT survey, 1 in 3 young people (18–29) report having experienced unpleasant situations related to alcohol use in public places over the past two years.

“The Labour Party’s horse-trading to attract new voter groups is disappointing because it moves away from what the party has previously presented in its programs,” says Hanne Cecilie Widnes. “Those programs say the party will pursue a restrictive alcohol policy, protect the alcohol monopoly, and continue using effective tools such as prevention, pricing, and the advertising ban.”

IOGT hopes the Labour Party will quickly return to its own alcohol policy, which is also in line with what the majority in Norway want as a framework for alcohol.

“The last thing we need is more alcohol in our parks, longer opening hours, and a weakening of the alcohol advertising ban, which would end up right on the screens of children and young people,” emphasizes the Secretary General of IOGT.

Political demands before the election

IOGT has three fundamental demands for the Labour Party and other parties in alcohol and drug policy, and we expect more responsibility and less horse-trading ahead of the election:

• No to alcohol in parks and other public spaces. The proposal that municipalities can allow bringing alcohol to such places must be rejected.

• No to legalization and liberalization of drugs. The existing ban must be maintained and combined with stronger prevention and better health care for people with addiction.

• Protect the alcohol advertising ban. The ban is an important policy tool that, together with price regulation and the alcohol monopoly, helps prevent overall consumption in Norway.

---

Source: IOGT Norway