The football world cup is not about Norwegian serving hours

Hanne Widnes, secretary general of IOGT

22.12.2025 - For the first time in 28 years, Norway will go to the football World Cup. It will be a few magical weeks where we hope for strong Norwegian performances and a football celebration for all of us.

Right after qualification, the Progress Party was out with a political distraction and a political demand for extended serving hours during the football World Cup. There is a simple solution to this that will not undermine the Alcohol Act.

We in the drug policy organisation IOGT also see that both the prime minister and several others are now competing for attention with the message that licensed venues of course must be able to stay open when the World Cup matches are played at night.

A political lever That the Progress Party uses the football World Cup as a lever for its liberal alcohol policy is completely predictable. The message is to the delight of both the alcohol industry and others who make a living from people drinking as much as possible.

Those who believe that alcohol use must also be about the health harms, the increased use of violence, and more social difficulties in many families are dismissed as “party poopers”.

Huge advertising campaigns in football stadiums all over the world speak the same language, that alcohol is a natural and important part of the football celebration. This alcohol advertising has a sales promoting effect in every match, and strengthens a culture where children and young people learn from the alcohol industry and adults.

The football celebration is for everyone

Of course we completely agree that everyone who wants to watch the World Cup matches at a licensed venue must be allowed to do so.

There are very simple solutions for this: venues can apply to the municipality for an extended serving licence, and municipalities can easily give the exemptions that are needed.

In that way, those who are at the venues can watch both the end of all matches and any penalty shootouts before they go home. It is that simple.

It is not a “problem” that serving cannot continue until the early morning hours. It is a good solution for all of us that drinking stops at some point during the night, and that the last minutes of play can be used for the match itself and some alcohol free alternatives.

The football World Cup is not about Norwegian serving rules. The football World Cup is about Norway finally being in place on the global football stage, what a joy this is for all of us!

The football World Cup is about children, young people, adults and older people in Norway being able to use a few summer weeks in 2026 on shared anticipation, excitement, joy and celebration!

Hanne Widnes, secretary general of IOGT