Norway has a rather complicated set of regulations for work and public holidays, and it seems to come as a surprise to people every year when Vinmonopolet is open.
And relax, you’ll have the opportunity to top up if the goodies run out after Maundy Thursday or Good Friday, because it’s open between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Easter evening. In 2014, the government gave permission for pole sales to be open on election days, Pentecost, Easter and New Year’s Eve.
According to Vinmonopolet, there are local variations. You can check your local pole outlet at The wine monopoly. For example, if you are going to make your purchases on Wednesday 27 March, you must note that all outlets must close at 4pm at the latest, but some can do so as early as 3pm.
These are the opening hours at Vinmonopolet Halden according to their website:
- Wednesday 27 March: 10:00 – 16:00
- Maundy Thursday: Closed
- Good Friday: Closed
- Easter evening: 10:00 – 15:00
- Easter Sunday: Closed
- 2nd Easter Sunday: Closed
Beer sales at Easter
Sales of alcoholic beverages up to 4.7 per cent can, as a general rule, take place from 08 to 18. On the days before Sundays and public holidays, sales shall, as a general rule, end at 3 p.m.
However, the individual municipalities can limit or extend this to 20.00 on weekdays and until 18.00 on Saturdays and days before public holidays.
Like many other municipalities in this country, Halden municipality has a regulation on opening hours for catering establishments, sales hours for alcoholic beverages up to 4.7%, and serving hours for catering establishments. These are the opening hours for the sale of alcoholic beverages in shops according to these regulations:
- Wednesday 27 March: 08.00–18.00
- Maundy Thursday: Closed
- Good Friday: Closed
- Easter Eve: 08.00–18.00
- Easter Sunday: Closed
- 2nd Easter Sunday: Closed
Remember that it is important that you check what applies to your municipality and the shops it applies to, because there are big variations.